The Worthless Son-in-law: Hidden Legend

Asper Stanley is a Devil

Lauren’s heart pounded in fear as the door slammed shut in her face. She felt a chill run down her spine, a growing sense of unease creeping over her. Something was wrong.

She banged on the door desperately, but it wouldn’t budge. Frustrated, she kicked and pulled at the handle, hoping to catch the attention of the bodyguard.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her daughter. The state she was in broke her heart. She couldn’t believe what had happened. Just as she was about to continue her frantic attempts at the door, the bathroom door creaked open.

Asper Stanley stepped out, wearing only a robe and rubbing his golden hair with a towel. Lauren stared at him, stunned.

“So it was you,” she breathed, her voice trembling.

She should have known it all along. Asper and her stepsister, Katherine, were the only ones who can hurt her and her daughter like this. But she never imagined Asper could be so cruel, so twisted.

A smug grin spread across Asper’s face as he approached her. “Of course, it’s me. Who else could possibly do something like this?” He pointed at Maya, hanging upside down with her legs bounded with chain and her eyebrow clipped with her eye lashes.

“How could you do this to her?” Lauren’s voice cracked with anger and disbelief. “Maya’s just a little girl—why would you do something so awful?”

Asper’s smirk never wavered. “Because I can. What are you going to do about it?”

Lauren rushed toward him, her fists clenched, but he raised a hand, causing her to flinch. “You think I was going to hurt you?” he taunted. “I just wanted to tuck your hair behind your ear.” His voice dripped with mockery.

Lauren glared at him, the rage building inside her. She was fighting every instinct to lash out, but she knew she had to stay focused.

Asper leaned in close and whispered, “The funniest part is, I gave your daughter two adult sleeping pills.”

“What?!” Lauren’s voice was filled with shock and panic as she rushed to her daughter’s side. Blood trickled from Maya’s forehead. Her little body trembled, and she weakly mouthed “Mummy” when she saw her.

“How could you do this to her?” Lauren cried out, tears streaming down her face. “She’s only four years old!”

She rushed toward Asper, her fist aiming for his face, but he easily grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully.

“Do you really think you’re that special, Lauren Damien?” Asper’s voice dripped with contempt. “I helped you when you were pregnant with that bastard. Without me, you wouldn’t even be alive. And this is how you repay me?”

“Please, Asper,” Lauren pleaded, her voice raw. “Just let Maya go. Please untie her.”

“Why should I?” he replied coldly. “You’re so full of yourself, still walking around as if you haven’t fallen from grace. You should be grateful that I even want you. Once, you were the most beautiful woman in Valeria, but look at you now. You’ve got this little girl with you—who would want you?”

Lauren’s knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, pulling at his bathrobe desperately. “Please, Asper, I’ll do anything you want. Just let my daughter go. She doesn’t deserve this. Please, she can’t die.”

Asper’s laughter echoed in the room. “Why not? Everyone dies. It’s just a matter of when. You’re lucky I’m not the one to end her life. But let’s not pretend you haven’t already betrayed me. The last time you promised to do whatever I wanted, you disappeared for three days. Did you think I didn’t notice? If I hadn't arranged for your Visa to be declined,only God knows where you would have run off to."

Lauren’s eyes burned with hatred. She never knew it was him who had arranged for her visa to be declined, preventing her from leaving the country. She has always thought it was her step father. She had been trapped here, all this time, because of him.

“That was because you’re Katherine’s fiancé!” she shot back. “Her family would have accused me of seducing you if they saw us together!”

“So what?” Asper sneered. “I don’t care what they think. I want you. And that’s final.”

“Okay,” Lauren’s voice trembled as she fought to stay calm. “Just let Maya go. I’ll do anything.”

“If you don’t?” Asper’s eyes darkened.

“You can... you can do whatever you want...” she stammered, desperation choking her words.

“You know what I’ll do if you refuse. I will rape you in your daughter's presence,” Asper threatened, his voice venomous. “Let’s see how you live after that.”

Lauren covered her mouth in disbelief. How could he...how could he say something like that? Assaulting her in her daughter's presence? Maya is just four!

Asper tossed a button toward Lauren, then walked out of the room, fully dressed.

Lauren rushed to her daughter’s side, her hands shaking as she frantically pressed the button Asper had given her. She pressed it again, but it didn’t work. Panic set in as she thought he had tricked her.

Just as she was about to give up, the chains around Maya’s legs clicked open, and Maya collapsed onto the floor, weak but alive.