Chapter 63: Who Exactly is Asher?

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Who Exactly is Asher?

’Hmph. Is this what they call instant karma?’

’Setting aside whether or not Asher is the murderer and deserves punishment, a scumbag like Dylan Lancaster absolutely deserves to be comatose.’

"Master Lancaster has already hurried back," the assistant said again.

Asher didn’t say anything, just glanced back at me.

I was preoccupied, feeling this whole thing was too much of a coincidence. "Let’s go back."

The Lancaster family was down another person. Now Master Lancaster didn’t even have his one infertile, good-for-nothing son. All that was left was Asher, the "crazy and foolish" illegitimate grandson, and the unborn child in my womb.

’I didn’t know what this meant for Asher—if it was a good thing or a bad thing.’

Master Lancaster was getting on in years, and the family business couldn’t withstand much more turmoil. Dylan Lancaster was an idiot, completely incapable of driving the company’s growth. But because he was the old man’s only son, the Lancaster Group had been in that fool’s hands for all these years, and it was now just an empty shell.

’As Master Lancaster gets older and older, if the Lancaster family runs out of heirs, he won’t be able to keep the wolves and tigers within the Lancaster Group in check. I’m afraid they’ll all come out to play.’

’The child in my belly is still so young, and whether it will even be born safely is an unknown. It’s also a question whether Master Lancaster’s health will hold out long enough for the child to grow up and inherit the family business.’

’A great change was coming for the Lancaster Family.’

In the car, I glanced at Asher.

’What a pity.’

’If he weren’t crazy or foolish, with his intellect and a genius mind that bordered on madness... he could surely lead the Lancaster Group to greater heights.’

...

After a few hours’ drive, we finally returned to Meridia.

It started raining suddenly that day. I sat in the car, my gaze drifting as I watched pedestrians hurry past outside the window.

Before I died, my biggest fear was rain, because on the day my parents died in a car accident, it had also been raining heavily.

I was afraid of thunder, afraid of rain, afraid of the dark, and afraid of enclosed spaces.

I used to desperately long for someone to hold me when I was most terrified. I also used to desperately long for Julian Fletcher to hold me when I was scared.

But unfortunately, every single time, he would just mercilessly rub salt in my wounds, trampling me underfoot and slowly grinding me down.

CRACK! Suddenly, lightning split the sky. The clap of thunder made my whole body go stiff, and I slowly started to tremble.

’This weather... it’s just like the day of my parents’ car accident... the year I turned eighteen.’

My breathing grew ragged, and my body began to shake uncontrollably.

"We’re here, Young Master, Young Madam." The assistant opened the door, motioning for me to get out.

I tried my best to act normal, but whenever the thunder cracked, I flinched involuntarily.

Asher got out of the car, walked over to my side, and draped his jacket over me. "Don’t be afraid. The rain won’t touch you."

I froze, my breath catching as I looked up at Asher holding an umbrella.

’Why on earth does he always give me such a strangely familiar feeling? Is he in the memories I’ve lost?’

’Or is this... Stockholm syndrome? Am I developing feelings for the man who might have killed me?’

"Cece, don’t be afraid." His voice was very low. Because of an old injury to his throat, it was hoarse yet magnetic, and surprisingly, it conveyed a sense of stability and reassurance.

I got out of the car and stood under his umbrella.

I used to be scared whenever I heard Asher’s voice, but now I found it reassuring, which terrified me.

’If this continues, will I be brainwashed by him?’

Rain pattered on the umbrella. I watched him for a long time.

Asher remained silent, just quietly looking down at me.

"Master Lancaster went to the Republic of M. No one will be bothering us for a while, and no one will bully you anymore," I said softly.

’In that case, I can get busy with my own affairs tomorrow.’

’I have to investigate this thoroughly, find the truth, and find Asher’s accomplice.’

Asher didn’t say a word. He just held the umbrella for me, took my hand, and led me back to my room.

"Good night." With Dylan Lancaster out of the picture, I was in a surprisingly good mood, so I wished Asher good night.

His hair was damp and his face was pale. Against his black jacket, his features looked even more delicate, yet they held an inscrutable mystery.

I stood at the doorway and glanced at him one last time before entering my room and shutting the door.

The room the Lancaster family had prepared for me was large, the bed was soft, and the environment was pleasant, but it felt empty.

Asher’s little room, on the other hand, felt much more secure.

I was startled by my own thought. Without even realizing it, my opinion of Asher seemed to be changing.

’But I know he’s a murderer!’

I curled up on the bed in fear. I was afraid of seeing lightning and hearing thunder, but now I was even more afraid that I was starting to empathize with Asher, a murderer.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning seemed to explode right in front of my eyes...

"Ah..." I cried out in terror, curling my legs up, my breathing rapid.

"Asher... go back to the orphanage and wait for me. Be good."

"Cece, I’ll wait for you forever. If you don’t come... I won’t leave."

"Cece, you promised you’d come find me. I’ll always be waiting for you at the orphanage."

Scenes from the day of the car accident, familiar yet strange, flashed through my mind again.

BOOM. Thunder rumbled outside the window.

Terrified, I scrambled out of bed and ran desperately for the door.

I didn’t even know why I was running. By the time I came to my senses, I had already opened my door.

"Ah!" Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my wrist, yanked me forward, pinned me against the wall, and a mouth came down on mine.

The room was dark, the lights off. It was so black I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, but I knew Asher was just outside the door.

I couldn’t see his face, only feel his breath.

He seemed to be afraid of something too, kissing me frantically as if he were venting.

I tried to push him away with all my strength, but I couldn’t budge him. My eyes burned, hot with tears.

"Liar..."

He seemed to be venting, calling me a liar. "You told me to go back... and wait for you."

"Get off me..." I shoved him away with all my might and slapped him across the face. Leaning against the wall, my breathing grew even more ragged.

I don’t know why, but suddenly all the grievances I’d suffered came flooding back.

His figure seemed forlorn as he stood there, head lowered, not saying a word.

I instinctively wanted to reach out and comfort him, but was shocked at myself for even thinking it.

’What in the world is wrong with me?’

BOOM. The thunder roared, deafeningly loud. My body moved unconsciously, and I buried myself in Asher’s arms, crying even harder.

In that instant, all my pent-up grievances truly overwhelmed me.

From my parents’ death in the car accident until now, everything had felt like a dream.

Asher’s body stiffened for a moment, then he slowly raised his arms and held me tight.

He didn’t say anything, but I could feel his body trembling.

"Cece... No matter what you become, I will always find you. I’m sorry... I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again." Asher’s arms around me tightened, his voice trembling as well.

I leaned against him, and for the first time... I wanted to completely relax and rely on someone’s embrace.

"I’m scared... of the thunder. Tonight... sleep here," I whispered.

He seemed pleasantly surprised, perhaps because I had taken the initiative.

"Ah!" He suddenly lifted me into his arms, and I yelped, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck.

’He can lift me with one arm... Where does he get all this strength? He looks so thin and frail, but with his clothes off... he’s actually quite muscular.’

After placing me on the bed, he got a warm towel and wiped my hands and feet.

By the dim light of the bedside lamp, I just watched him.

’He’s a murderer.’

’If he really is the one who murdered me and all those other women, then even if the law can’t punish him, I would... without a moment’s hesitation... kill him with my own hands.’