Asher ran as fast as he could through the busy streets, dodging vehicles and pedestrians alike as he headed towards his destination. His lungs burned as his muscles ached, but he ignored it all as he focused on getting there.
Every breath seemed to drag in the cold, dry air as if he were inhaling needles; each step was painful against the concrete sidewalk. He could feel his body begging him to slow down or stop altogether, but he refused.
When Asher reached the familiar road with tall trees lining the sidewalks leading up to a mansion, he paused and took a deep breath to calm himself down.
It was still a long way to the front gate, but he didn't let that deter him from walking ahead. He couldn't afford to stop now, even though his body was already worn out from all the running.
As he neared the gate, he saw that it was open, and that made him quicken his pace further until he was sprinting again, albeit slower than before. He wanted to reach her as soon as possible and knew that he had to hurry before someone realized he was here.
By the time he managed to make his way into the garden, his breathing was labored and sweat dripped down his face, but he couldn't care less about that, as right before his eyes was a woman getting out of a car, walking towards the garden.
The moment he saw her silhouette in the distance with the moonlight illuminating her body, making her purple-black hair glow and her pale skin radiate, all the exhaustion faded away into nothingness, replaced by sheer elation as if he'd just discovered an oasis in the desert.
Her movements were graceful yet fluid, like flowing water, and she looked perfect from head to toe. Her amethyst eyes shone brighter than any star he'd ever seen, giving off a sense of mystery and seduction. She was the most beautiful and perfect woman Asher had ever laid his eyes on.
She wore a red off-shoulder dress that hugged her curves, revealing her deep cleavage. A silver necklace with a flower pendant hung around her slender neck, complemented by a pair of matching earrings dangling from her ears.
The dress had a side slit, revealing her long legs with thick thighs enveloped in black stockings. Paired with sleek black high heels, she looked like a goddess descending from heaven.
Without waiting any longer, Asher dashed forward, rushing towards her with all his might, wanting to reach her and take a look at her up close as soon as possible.
"Asher?"
The moment Asher heard his name called out by that soft and gentle voice, his eyes widened with surprise and excitement.
The voice belonged to the woman standing before him—the most precious person in his entire world.
"Fufufu... Then, honey, how about a kiss from your mommy to make you feel even better?"
Upon hearing these words, the youth pulled himself back from the hug and looked into his mom's eyes with a slight blush on his face. "What are you saying, mom? Isn't it inappropriate for a mother and son to do such a thing?"
"Fufufu..." A mischievous smile formed on Aria's face when she saw Asher's embarrassed expression. "What are you thinking about, son?"
"Ahhhh....." The youth panicked and struggled to find the correct answer, but he couldn't hide the desire in his eyes as he stared at his mother's luscious lips. "I am sorry, mom. I just misunderstood what you said. Please don't hate me for that."
"Of course not. How could I hate you, honey? I love you, my beloved son. Even if you're a naughty boy who always lies to me and tries to deceive me with those puppy eyes of yours!"
After saying that, Aria leaned closer to her son and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, followed by a peck on his cheek.
"Ehem, ehem! I think it is enough for now, mom. We should go inside and have dinner together." The youth suggested in an attempt to escape from his mom's teasing and temptations.
"Yes, of course. Let us go inside, dear." The mature woman giggled with amusement while nodding her head in agreement.
Seeing that scene, Asher's vision became blurry, and his head started to spin, making him dizzy. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. It felt like an arrow had pierced his chest, piercing through his heart and leaving behind a gaping wound.
Tears brimmed at the edges of Asher's eyes as he watched the mother and son share an affectionate embrace. His face was filled with anguish, grief, and despair, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing right in front of him.
'That youth is Asher Blake, her real son. And this is where I stand, at the periphery of their lives. I was never part of their world and will never be a part of their happy family.' Asher thought as his bloodshot eyes shifted towards Aria. 'But what am I doing here? I knew from the beginning that I was not Asher Blake. I am not her son, so why am I here?
Why do I even bother to try and see her when I already know the truth?'
In spite of knowing all of this, Asher couldn't stop himself from trying to get closer to her, but he stumbled forward and fell to his knees, clutching his chest in pain. The impact of reality shattered the illusion of hope in his heart, turning it into dust and blowing it away with the wind.
His teeth clenched tight as tears streamed down his face and his heart beat faster than it ever did in his entire life, threatening to explode any moment from the extreme agony and emotional torment that consumed him.
"MOOOOMMMM!!!!!!" Asher yelled at the top of his lungs and screamed out of the deepest recesses of his soul with all of his might, wishing that he could break the chains binding him from reaching the one he desired most in this world.