n

n

nSeeing how reluctant Cassidy still is in leaving, Asher decided to convince her more.

nThis time, he will use another reason. That one about Grisham being capable of assassinating her inside her own home should have been convincing enough. They were fortunate that he was still not making any move since he returned from another country - for some reason they had no idea about, but it did not mean that she was already safe. If anything, he is only probably waiting for the right time to strike.

n

"Avoiding Grisham Donovan is not the only reason why I am asking you to leave with me tonight...

" Asher started once more, turning dead serious.

n

"You told me that you did not want to remain in dark anymore, right? Well, I say that you will not be any longer - regarding your family, at least. I have found someone who knows about the hidden past of your parents and their connection with Maruschca Donovan.

"

n

"Y-You what...?!

" Cassidy stammered out, her eyes widening in surprise and disbelief.

n

"H-How did you...?! W-Who is it?!

"

n

"The answer we'd been looking for was actually a lot nearer to us than we expected. Do you remember Aira? The daughter of the caretaker of the orphanage.

"

n

"Aira...? Yes, of course. I recall her. She was one of the five children who survived the fire, wasn't she?

"

n

"Yes. One of those lucky ones... A few years after that incident, she had been taken in by her great-aunt, Josephine, and she was still living with her in the countryside up to this day. Now, this Josephine - she knows the secrets of your family and Maruschca Donovan. Apparently, they're close a long, long time ago.

"

nAfter so many years of having no idea why Maruschca appeared and began treating her like her own granddaughter out of the blue, she finally has a lead. Not to mention, she can learn more about her deceased parents at last. She lost them at a very young age, so she barely knew anything about their background.

n

"However, Josephine is ill and bedridden. If you want to know the truth from her personally, I can take you to their place. For the lack of a better term, I don't know how long she will last, so we've gotta move while we still can,

" Asher continued while Cassidy stayed quiet and deep in thought.

nSilence prevails between them right then.

nThat's until he notices how she's appearing more and more troubled. She looks extremely exhausted. He then realizes that it might not be a good idea to pressure her when she has a fever. Knowing that he only did so because he feared that she would change her mind about Adrian made him feel quite childish and selfish.

n

"I'm sorry, Cassie!

" Asher exclaimed and grabbed her hands all of the sudden, startling her.

n

"H-Huh?! What? Why?

" Cassidy blurted out in bafflement.

n

"Sorry for pressing on you when you are sick. Am I making your head ache or something? Just say so!

"

n

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Though it is kinda throbbing a little-

"

n

"Then, you're not fine!

"

nIn a haste, he cups both of her cheeks and inches his face closer to hers. At their closeness, her eyes bulged wide while his squinted for a bit. As he silently examines her temperature, he keeps rubbing soothing circles on her skin using his thumbs as if giving her solace. All she can do is remain unmoving and speechless, astonished by the gesture.

nWhen he heaves a deep sigh and rests his forehead on hers, she can't help but slightly flinch.

n

"Please... Just come back with me...

" Asher breathed out in desperation, nonplussing Cassidy even more.

n

"I'll take care of you better, Cassie-

"

n

"Cassidy!

"

nThen, they froze.

nOut of nowhere, the door was thrown open, revealing a frantic Adrian.

nAs soon as he caught sight of their close proximity and intimate position, his panic has been replaced by massive confusion then violent anger. He seems so provoked that he disregards the context of the scene, coming up with ideas on his own. Everything escalates for the worse from that point on.

n

"You bastard! What the hell are you doing to my wife?!

" Adrian bolted out furiously as he surged in their direction.

nAsher did not respond, only choosing to glower at him in return. He lets him grab him tightly by his collar and forcefully pulls him away from the side of the bed. The two then begin glaring daggers at each other. It's seething rage versus cool indifference by then - turning the whole place upside down in only a minute.

nCassidy pales at the sight. She never saw her husband this infuriated, and she could not understand why her childhood friend was not trying to clear up the misunderstanding.

n

"Wait, no! It's not what you think! We're not doing anything...!

" she tried to talk him out of it but they only continued exchanging deadly stares.

n

"Asher, say something-

"

n

"You should not get too cocky only because you finally have your memories back, Shade...

" Asher suddenly hissed underneath his breath, taking both of them aback.

n

"All of us may not have wanted what happened to you, but losing your memories did not give you the right to treat Cassie like that! She shouldn't continue putting up with your pathetic ass too! You got your chances, and you wasted them! Why're you tryna lock her up now, huh?!

"

nAdrian has to take a moment to realize that Cassidy told him about his memory loss. He had wanted to keep it a secret between them until he could finish eradicating all of their enemies, but he really could not blame her since he failed to say that to her last night. More than that, though, he was thunderstruck by what he said about him. He might as well be saying that he did not deserve her or any second chance in their relationship.

nAgain, he could not blame anyone - not even him for thinking that way despite the fact that he is still not aware of the whole story. He understands where he is coming from, and he is just as mad and scornful at himself. However, not even those words of grudge and contempt could stop him from doing everything he was willing to do for his wife.

n

"I admit that I **ed up a lot, but I decided that the only person I would hear anything from was Cassidy herself. The world can think every bad thing about me - you can think nasty of me, but I will not abandon her ever again! Even if it takes me an eternity to get her forgiveness! Even if the whole universe condemns me...!

" Adrian retaliated with strong conviction, his voice kept breaking from the burst of emotions he was feeling at that moment.

n

"I will continue to treasure her more than my own life!

"

nCassidy went still at that, feeling her heart race at an abnormal pace.

nShe could see Asher shouting something back at him, but she could no longer make it out. Her everything that time seemed to zero in her loud heartbeat. She was trying to absorb his words - they were stirring something within her.

nNobody had ever said that about her before, but even when she knew she was glad about it, she could not.

nIt's like finding the right person at the wrong timing. Cassidy understood that what she once had with Adrian was genuine and sincere, but at this point, she was already too tired - too broken to accept anything more. She would acknowledge how he felt. However, she would also have to deny him the opportunity to start a new beginning with her.

nShe needs to for her own sake.

n

"You're really one cocky bastard!

"

nAt that, Cassidy snaps out of her thoughts and focuses on what is happening around her once again.

nThat's when she finds Asher raising his fist and aiming to punch Adrian in the face. She gasps in utter shock when it hits him square in his jaw. But before he stumbles backward, he strikes back right away and lands his own ferocious blow on his stomach.

nWith that, a fistfight broke out between the two.

n

"Both of you! Stop it!

" Cassidy hollered in an attempt to stop them but to no avail.

nThey keep lunging at each other like some wild beasts that are fighting over a prey. She keeps shouting at them to break it off, but they only cease when Edward and Charles come rushing in after hearing the commotion. The former immediately takes a hold of Adrian while the latter hauls Asher away from him.

nThey are both panting heavily when they are forced to wind up, but even then, they only continue glowering at each other as if begging for more.

n

"Cut it out, you two! The heck are your problems?!

" Edward told them off with a riled tone.

n

"Stop budging, Asher! I'm gonna handcuff you!

" Charles taunted and glared.

nCassidy sighed in relief as they managed to get the situation under control at last.

nWith how frantic she was a second ago, she failed to notice that Gilmore actually entered with them. He is now standing beside her bed, looking quite chilled despite the situation.

n

"And that, Mrs. Millicent, is how men communicate...

" he suddenly remarked, catching her off guard.

n

"They talk with their fists. Get it~?

"

nDumbfounded by how laid-back Gilmore seems to be about this whole thing, Cassidy only stares at him incredulously.

n