n

n

nWhen Asher first heard the astonishing news of the arrest of the target of his bloodlust and malice, he was enraged to an extent.

nWith Grisham being dealt with in such a legal and humane process, he could not help but be immensely dismayed. Putting him behind the bars will not do them justice at all. That atrocious monster deserves far worse than a lifetime imprisonment - he needs to suffer before he gets locked up.

n

"I knew I should've been faster than Shade! I couldn't trust him to do this right at all...!

" Asher exclaimed exasperatedly, talking on the phone.

n

"I don't care if that piece of trash rots in jail! He should experience at least half of what he did to his victims! I was even planning to torture him! Get him out of there, Charlie! Get him out!

"

n

"You know, you really sound like a madman right now. Calm down...

" Charles said at the other end of the line, heaving a sigh at the same time.

n

"I know how you feel, and I know that the President understands that feeling more than anyone else. He himself thought a lot about this, but in the end, he realized that this was the best thing to do.

"

n

"Best thing my ass! He was only lenient because he was his dearest granddaddy!

"

n

"He was not at all. You don't have any idea what he has been through under him.

"

n

"Sure, I have!

"

n

"Anyway, the President and Ma'am Cassidy are the main victims here. Let us just leave it up to them, alright? Let them decide what they want to do.

"

nAsher couldn't deny what Charles said. Those two have every right to choose how they will treat their trespassers. They were probably even having a really hard time in confronting this entire matter, considering that all they truly wanted here was to live in peace and happiness for once.

n

"Just so you know, the President nearly killed all of the subordinates before exposing them and stripping off everything from them. He may not have done the same with the mastermind, but I can tell that he has a separate plan at least,

" Charles continued to which he only rolled his eyes in response.

n

"Yeah, I already know. Putting him in a cellar without an air conditioner, is that it? That is indeed extremely cruel of him,

" Asher scoffed sarcastically.

n

"Look, he couldn't kill him just like what you probably wanted, and that's not because they're blood-related. Aside from the fact that killing has never been his forte nor is it a right thing to do, he has his own reasons. It's pretty complicated. To begin with, I honestly don't know why I'm even reasoning myself out to you.

"

n

"Well, thanks for defending him, then.

"

n

"Asher? Why are you still awake?

"

nAt that, Asher immediately turned to the side and found Cassidy looking at him in puzzlement, prompting him to lower his phone and end his call with Charles at once.

n---

nIt's their second night in Josephine's home.

nLike during the first one, Cassidy slept with Aira in her bedroom while Asher took the couch at the living room. The two of them were talking the night away, lying beside each other. The brunette still hadn't ran out of things to say to her - they'd talk about her friends, how she's doing at school, and her current life overall.

nBut at one point tonight, their conversation suddenly focused on her and her marriage life.

n

"I still couldn't believe that you didn't have a child yet, big sister...

" Aira brought up out of nowhere.

n

"As far as I recall, you kept telling us before that your hubby was so handsome, spellbinding, dreamy, mouth-watering, yummytastic-

"

n

"I-I-I never said that!

" Cassidy blurted out, blushing in embarrassment.

n

"Sure, you did! I saw him on TV, and I knew right then that you were not exaggerating at all. But more than him being attractive, rich and popular, I wish that he is also kind and caring towards you.

"

nAt that, the redhead falls silent and averts her gaze. During the time she boasted all of that to her siblings, her husband was far from kind and caring. Even then, she never spoke ill of him nor complained about how he treated her. She only kept looking at the bright side of things.

n

"Big sister, I want to see you happy, have kids, and create your own family. Isn't that your dream...?

" Aira beamed at her ever so brightly, flattering her.

n

"The five of us are alright now. You don't have to worry about us all the time. The others may still be in an orphanage, but I believe that they're already happy. They'll find their families soon, so it's your time to take care of yours.

"

nEven after Aira fell asleep, Cassidy couldn't stop thinking about those words.

nShe remained wide awake after singing her a lullaby and putting her to sleep. It reminded her of the last time she sang one for her nephews. Just like back then, she didn't get to fall asleep in the end, and with that, she just decided to take a breather for a moment.

nWhat she didn't expect to see as soon as she reached the living room was her livid childhood friend.

nFrom the beginning up until the end, Cassidy heard what Asher and Charles were talking about over the phone. She continued hiding and eavesdropping until she could no longer bear her silence. Grisham had been captured, and Adrian initiated the arrest - it was all too shocking for her to keep quiet.

n

"Asher? Why are you still awake?

"

nEven then, Cassidy ended up acting like she didn't hear anything at all.

nAsher was caught off guard to see her. Going by how he ended the call right away, he probably didn't want her to hear all those things.

n

"Since when were you standing there?

" he calmly asked.

n

"Ever since you started talking - or more like shouting,

" she plainly answered.

n

"No use hiding it, then. It was just as you heard - Shade did something, and I did not like it.

"

n

"As always, I see.

"

n

"Got any better reaction than that? You seemed fine about the solution he came up with.

"

nCassidy wasn't really sure about what she felt about the news.

nShe felt like it all escalated in quite a rapid pace, considering that she only uncovered their past yesterday. Even now, she wasn't certain about what she should do from that point on. She couldn't go against Grisham like what Frederick and Cassius did - to begin with, she didn't want to shed blood to take revenge.

nDoing so would only repeat the cycle of hatred. Hate would give birth to hate. While she does hate her grandfather-in-law with every fiber of her being, she loves herself and the people around her too much to dwell on that feeling. All she really wants is to settle down and begin a new life with them.

n

"At the very least, I'm relieved that Adrian took action and did not remain ignorant. I don't really want him to turn into a murderer or someone who brutally tortures his family - he's hurt too, so he also deserves a life that isn't filled with vengeance and loathing,

" Cassidy confessed with a downcast gaze, underwhelmed yet relieved by this turn of events.

n

"Seriously, you're too soft for your own good...

" Asher muttered with a sigh before walking closer to her and stretching his arms forward to trap her on the wall - his intense gaze firmly locked with her surprised one.

n

"To be honest, it's exactly what I want - to torture and kill that man, that is.

"

n

"I won't let you go that far, Asher!

"

n

"You're just scared. After all, you've loved Shade, and Shade used to respect him a whole lot-

"

n

"That's not what this is all about! Why're you bringing that up now?!

"

n

"Why?! Because I myself also love-

"

nThen, he cut himself off.

nSlipping for a second there, he immediately swallowed down his words before he could spill some more. She raised her brows and blinked at him, flummoxed by how he stilled and went quiet all of the sudden. With that, the two of them only continue exchanging looks in silence.

nYet seeing those pure and innocent eyes of hers, he couldn't possibly remain headstrong and selfish for even a little while longer. All he could admit here was defeat.

nShe's just too precious for her own good.

n

"Ughhh...! I give up...!

" Asher then groaned and slammed his forehead on her shoulder before heaving a deep sigh.

n

"As long as you're sure of what you genuinely desire, let's just follow that.

"

n

"What I genuinely desire?

" Cassidy whispered, a bit astounded.

n

"All you want is to start anew, right? How exactly do you want us to do that?

"

n

"Ummm...

"

nThe picture is still vague, but the idea is clear in her head.

nFor now, she wants to watch how things will go with the Millicent's from this point on. With Grisham already exposed and all, she will get to see their respective responses at last. As for her, she wants to piece her own life back together alongside Asher and the others. Building a family may still be a far-fetched dream for her, but she will work hard to get there in one way or another.

nWhile those at Adrian's side meet their downfall, Cassidy will rise up from the ashes of her past once more.

n