Chapter 181 - 180: I Knew We Had to Fight Back

Chapter 181: Chapter 180: I Knew We Had to Fight Back

"Asher..."

My voice was hoarse as I called his name.

He was punching Brandon Lancaster in the face, one fist after another, like he’d gone mad.

The other men were terrified by the sight of him. The one who had tried to attack was beaten to the ground with a club by Asher.

In that instant, he was like a beast that had lost all humanity, knowing only that he had to kill... every last one of them.

"Asher..." I called his name, trying to bring him back to his senses.

I didn’t want him to be sent to a mental hospital again.

He must have heard my cry. Asher’s body went rigid, and he dropped the club in his hand. Covered in blood, he staggered toward me.

He collapsed to the ground, pulling me into a forceful embrace. He covered my eyes, trembling and lost, like a child who had done something wrong. "Cece... Don’t... don’t look. Don’t look..."

I cried, nestled in his arms, my dress soaked through with blood.

"My stomach... it hurts so much."

’Am I just not fated to have a child?’

’Or is this... simply my destiny...’

At first, I only wanted this child to have an heir for the Lancaster family. With this child, I could have used the Lancaster family’s power, used Master Lancaster’s status and position to do what I wanted.

To escape that room, to find the real culprit...

But slowly, as a mother, through one checkup after another, I began to accept his existence. I started looking forward to his birth...

Whenever there was trouble, I would instinctively shield my belly. I would do everything in my power as a mother to protect him.

But now, I might not be able to protect this little life anymore.

"Cece..."

My consciousness was drifting. I could feel Asher trembling.

His voice was choked with sobs and grief.

’I don’t know why the heavens treat him like this, why he has to endure so much pain.’

’And now he has to watch his own child slowly slip away...’

’What will it take for him to just live a good life?’

’Where... where did it all go wrong?’

"Sebastian Lancaster... what are you doing? Are you trying to kill him...?" I watched as Asher set me down, picked up the club from the ground, and walked toward Brandon Lancaster, who was already unable to get up.

Brandon Lancaster looked at Asher in terror, trying his best to fight back.

But Asher... he wasn’t just ruthless when he fought; he was skilled. Every blow was aimed at a vital point.

Brandon Lancaster’s goons were already down for the count. No one could protect him now.

"Sebastian Lancaster... you can’t kill me... AAGH!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out.

I desperately tried to reach out, to stop Asher, but the pain left me speechless.

"Cecilia Caldwell! Sebastian Lancaster!"

The warehouse door was thrown open. Lucas Grant and Zeke Shaw had finally found us...

Asher didn’t even turn his head. He brought the club down hard on Brandon Lancaster’s skull.

"Asher..." I cried, raising a hand, before finally losing consciousness.

...

I don’t know how long I was unconscious.

In my dreams, I saw a small baby being carried away by someone.

I cried out, wanting to take my child back, but they moved too quickly. I struggled to keep up but couldn’t, and could only watch helplessly as they disappeared...

"Asher, I hate myself. I’m the one who should be dead."

"Asher, this is my retribution."

"Asher, I killed them all... Will you hide me?"

"Asher... I’m scared."

In my dream, it seemed I was constantly calling Asher’s name.

I said I had killed someone; I saw my hands covered in blood.

"How can I save them..."

"Asher, we can’t escape. Even if we run, our conscience and our nightmares will hunt us to the ends of the earth. Asher... I was wrong. When you do something wrong, you have to pay the price. No one is an exception. So, I can’t escape."

My trembling fingers touched Asher’s face.

In the dream, Asher’s face was clear, and pale.

"Don’t die... I’m begging you."

"Cece, don’t leave me all alone."

"Cece..."

"Asher!" In the dream, I screamed his name, watching him lie in a pool of blood and slowly fade away.

I woke up in terror, staring at the ceiling with ragged breaths.

The hospital...

"Asher..." I looked around anxiously.

Zeke Shaw was asleep, but my voice startled him awake.

He was injured, with bandages wrapped around his head and arm. "Silvia Lynch!"

"Asher..." My throat was dry and hoarse as I called his name.

"He’s fine. Because of the medication and his injuries, he’s been sleeping for a long time. He woke up once, then passed out again. The doctor said it’s better to let him sleep," Zeke Shaw quickly reassured me.

I let out a sigh of relief, my cold fingers gripping Zeke Shaw’s hand. "The baby..."

Zeke Shaw froze for a moment, then lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with guilt.

His silence told me everything I needed to know... The baby didn’t make it.

"But... with the baby gone, we can protect Asher," Zeke Shaw said quietly, rubbing his temples.

My eyes burned hot, and my voice choked. "Asher..."

"Brandon Lancaster is dead..."

Zeke Shaw’s voice was low.

’Brandon Lancaster is dead. There’s no way Asher would have spared him when he lost control.’

’Brandon Lancaster caused the car crash, kidnapped me, and beat the baby out of my womb right in front of Asher. Asher... killed him to protect me.’

"There’s one more thing... Master Lancaster is ruthless. He seized the opportunity to pin all of the Lancaster family’s dirty, under-the-table dealings on Brandon Lancaster. All the criminal activities that the police have been investigating him for over the years... they’ve been wiped clean now that Brandon is dead. This also means Master Lancaster will fight you with everything he has for control of the Lancaster Group."

Zeke Shaw sounded frustrated.

’Corporate warfare is a dark business. Cutthroat, using others to do your dirty work.’

"With your baby gone, the Lancaster heir is gone. Asher has his mental illness, and you know it’ll be difficult for him to take over the Lancaster Group. That means the company can only be managed by Master Lancaster for the time being, and slowly..." Zeke Shaw felt that Master Lancaster had won this round.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. "He thinks he can get away with reaping the rewards after getting my child killed? In his dreams."

"I’m advising you not to go head-to-head with him. You and Asher... you don’t have the power to fight back." Zeke Shaw thought Asher and I were too vulnerable.

"I have one more option..." I said in my hoarse voice, looking at Zeke Shaw. "What time is it...?"

"What are you planning to do?" he asked, looking at me nervously.

"The Meridia business circle’s charity banquet... when does it start?" I propped myself up, trying to sit, but my head was spinning violently.

That blow to the head must have given me a concussion.

"Are you crazy? You just had a miscarriage procedure, and you have a concussion! What are you trying to do?"

Zeke Shaw tried to stop me in a panic.

I shook my head. "I have to go..."

’I have to meet the president of Astraeus Group.’

"Why?" Zeke Shaw frowned.

"I need to protect Asher..." My eyes reddened as I looked at Zeke Shaw. "I need to protect Asher."

I’ve already lost my child. I can’t lose Asher, too.

I can’t just stand by and watch him be bullied, hurt, and used anymore.

"I don’t want to go on like this... completely defenseless, utterly helpless, with no leverage. Anyone can just come and hurt us..."

I looked at Zeke Shaw, losing control of my emotions, tears welling in my eyes. "I don’t want to watch helplessly as they take Asher away again!"

"I want to protect him."

"I’ll take you." It was Madeline Quinn’s voice, from the doorway.

Her eyes were red. She was holding a food container and spoke again, softly. "There are still three hours until the charity banquet. You need to eat first."

I looked at Madeline Quinn and gave her a silent, tearful smile.

’She understands me...’

Zeke Shaw frowned. "You’re encouraging this madness..."

"Do you think if they surrender, retreat, and concede, Master Lancaster will just let them go?! Today he took the child in Cece’s belly, tomorrow he could take Asher’s life! As long as Asher isn’t dead, they can always have another child, can’t they?" Madeline Quinn shouted at Zeke Shaw.

Zeke Shaw fell silent. "Fine... I get it. Don’t catch a cold. If you feel unwell, come back immediately. I’ll drive you both."

(Quick little spoiler: The female lead doesn’t have schizophrenia or multiple personalities, by the way.)