As they returned to the apartment with the pizza, Asher still hadn't said a word. Vivienne took out the ointment and walked over to Asher. "Sit on the couch, I'll apply the ointment for you."After glancing at her for a moment, he sat on the nearby couch. She took his hand and said, "Tilt your face slightly upward." It was inconvenient to apply the ointment with his head lowered.He lifted his chin slightly, revealing his slender neck and dark eyes, which showed no particular expression. On his fair face, there were several alarming red marks.With her fingertip coated in ointment, she gently applied it to his face. Finally, she brushed aside the hair on his forehead to check if there were any injuries there.He was like a silent doll, not uttering a word throughout the process, just quietly watching her.After finishing applying the ointment to his face, she asked, "What about your body? Did you get hurt anywhere?" She had no idea if he had any injuries on his body because he was wea
It wasn't until Vivienne reached the sixth grade that their shared sleeping arrangement ended, after she experienced her first period. At that time, they had a big fight over it."Yes!" she said, "If you have an injury, I can help apply medication, but it doesn't mean I can undress you or freely look at your body.""What if I say you can?" he asked, sounding somewhat desperate."Even then, it's not allowed," she refused.On his beautiful face, there was a hint of hurt. Suddenly, he raised his hand and began unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time.Vivienne widened her eyes. What was he doing? Undressing?Time seemed to stand still as she stared blankly at him unbuttoning his shirt, undoing all the buttons and revealing his bare chest.Under the light, it appeared flawlessly fair. Unlike his childhood and adolescent bodies, his physique now embodied that of a mature man, with well-defined abdominal muscles emanating a subtle sense of intimidation."Does that mean I have to become y
"Asher, let me get up first so I can see where you hit yourself," she shouted. "Vivi," he tightly pressed her face against his heart, as if wanting her to fully hear his heartfelt words, "Can't I be your boyfriend? I like you, really like you, more than anyone else in this world. I will definitely fall in love with you, and I'll give you all the love you desire." He wanted her acknowledgment, he wanted her to stop resisting him, and he wanted her willingly. She wanted to push him away, but when her fingers touched his skin, she hesitated involuntarily. A indescribable emotion spread in her chest. Was it reluctance? Sympathy? Or anguish? Even she couldn't explain it. Perhaps, as he said, his fondness for her surpassed anyone else in this world. But... "Can't I?" The cold and clear voice pierced into her ears like steel wires, penetrating her eardrums and tingling her nerves. And she couldn't utter a single word. After Declan finished reporting on the recruitment matters and place
The man rumored to be aloof and indifferent, a man who showed no interest in women, but anyone could understand the possessive and focused gaze he had when looking at Vivienne. So, was that man determined to have Vivienne?Subconsciously rotating the ring on his left hand, Ezra lowered his gaze, fixating on the smile of the girl in the photo. Her delicate face couldn't compare to the dazzling women surrounding him, yet that smile had poisoned him, haunting his thoughts even three years later."Vivienne," he softly uttered, as if speaking to her in the photo, or perhaps murmuring to himself, "Tell me, how can I forget you? Should I obtain you or destroy you?" If he couldn't have her, then he would destroy her. That had always been his belief, but an unexplained pain pricked at his chest.Faintly, gradually, it deepened, responding to him in the still air.Raising his hand, Ezra closed his eyes, lightly pressing his lips against the cold ring, indulging in its presence.For Vivienne, As
Julian readily admitted, then continued, "But you know, with celebrities, it's better to admire them from a distance. Sometimes, distance adds to the charm. Especially in the entertainment industry, it's a big whirlpool, and getting too close to these stars might lead to disappointment." Vivienne thought her friend, who could be considered a typical fan, was unusually clear-headed and calm. "Julian, have you ever genuinely liked someone, romantically, I mean?" Julian blinked in surprise, not expecting her best friend to suddenly ask such a question. "No," she replied. In her memory, the closest she came to having a crush was in the second grade when she wrote a love letter to a boy who had lots of snacks at home. But because of all the spelling mistakes in the letter, he circled each one and returned it to her. So, Julian's infatuation never had the chance to turn into a first love and ended before it even began. "What about you? Have you ever liked someone?" Julian asked in retur
The man referred to as Sharon seemed visibly angry. Fueled by alcohol, he forcefully shook off Caelan's hand and said, "Her? I want to see what Asher would do to make me regret it if I really laid a hand on her. Am I supposed to end up in the hospital like Gary?"Sharon shouted and swung his fist towards Vivienne. Despite Vivienne's efforts to remain calm, being held by the collar and the inherent physical differences between men and women left her with no escape. Just as Sharon's fist was about to connect, his head was suddenly held tightly by a hand, and the next moment, his body was kicked away with force.In the blink of an eye, when Vivienne regained her senses, she saw the man who intended to hit her already sprawled on the ground. Asher's foot was pressing down on the hand that had thrown the punch, and his usually clear and handsome face was now covered in a shadow.Lily took the opportunity to run to Vivienne's side and asked, "Are you okay? Did anything happen?" When she wit
The screams and shouts around suddenly turned into silence. It seemed that no one expected the person who had been so ruthless just moments ago to be beaten without even fighting back.The group of people who had come with Sharon finally regained their senses and rushed forward to restrain him. "Let go of me! I'm not done yet!" Sharon shouted."Have you had enough, Sharon? Do you want your whole family to be buried with you?!" Caelan yelled, raising his hand and delivering a harsh slap to Sharon.Sharon jolted, instantly coming to his senses and fixing his gaze on Asher. His white attire was in disarray, and the most disturbing sight was the trickle of blood sliding down his forehead.Everyone knew about Asher's family's protective nature and their inclination for retaliation. Messing with the Montgo family meant rarely getting away unscathed.With a frightened expression, Sharon finally began to feel fear. After all, his family's influence in the military was far inferior to that of
As the car drove halfway, Asher seemed to be weakened due to blood loss. He leaned heavily on Vivienne's shoulder, his whole body appearing sluggish and drowsy.The light inside the car was dim and tinged with a yellow hue. Vivienne lowered her head and observed his once fair complexion, now almost translucent under the smears of blood.Pale and fragile!"Don't fall asleep! Please, don't!" Vivienne exclaimed by Asher's ear, fearing that he might drift off and...As if hearing her voice, his eyes slowly opened, fixated on her without blinking.Silent and profound, like an eternal gaze.At this moment, Vivienne felt a sense of regret. She regretted saying those words to him earlier. If she hadn't said them, he wouldn't have allowed himself to be beaten without fighting back, and he wouldn't be bleeding from his head like this.Since childhood, her words had the power to influence every aspect of his life!Caelan drove the car directly to the best hospital in town. Obviously, he had alre