That night, before Asher's shift came to an end, he sneaked into Isabella's room. She was more than happy to see him. “I thought you weren't coming.” She accused him. It was true that she had begun doubting he would show after waiting for quite a while. “Sorry for making you wait, princess.” He reached out and grabbed her wrist. Isabella smiled, flinging herself into his arms. Asher squeezed her to him, inhaling her calming scent as he squeezed his eyes shut.“I was about to come looking for you.” She retorted with a satisfied smile that Asher missed, so he couldn't tell if she was serious or just joking around as usual. “I have to go before the next guy gets here,” Asher whispered reluctantly. Isabella frowned. “…”“I promise I will be back in the morning before you wake.” “But I wanted to sleep with you tonight.” Isabella shot back. Asher's heart skipped a beat. He, too, wanted the same impossible thing, which made him regret his decision to seek employment in the Garcia's house

Back in the SUV, Isabella turned to Asher. “I apologise for what I said, I didn't mean for it to come out like that.” “Is that what you really think of me?” Asher asked, merely curious. “That I am with you just for sex?” Isabella's statement earlier had made him feel shitty. And though he was keeping a huge ass secret from her, he didn't appreciate being compared to hit-and-run fellas. With all honesty, he was running out of ideas on what to do or even behave to make her realize he was serious about her. “Can you firmly say that you like me of my exceptional character?'' Isabella shot back instead. Asher blinked. No one in their right mind would like a slut with an addiction problem. Yet, he was. Crazy about a woman, and he didn't even know why. “No,” he said quietly, choosing honestly. Isabella smiled bitterly. She appreciated his sincerity, but it didn't mean his answer didn't hurt her. “Then which reason do you have for liking me?” Her exasperated tone made Asher nervous. He wa

Asher regretted his decision almost two hours later when he drove back home and let Isabella see the disturbing file. At first, she was calm and collected perusing through, until, of course, she got to the picture part. With shaky hands, she lifted the first one and stared at it intently. One would have thought that she was trying to figure something out, but her eyes were good to the lifeless face lying on the floor. That face that had haunted her every waking moment for as long as she could remember. That face that she missed so much. And the same face that she had hated at a point for causing her unbearable pain. “I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was.” It was a silently broken whimper, but Asher heard it clearly and his heart clenched. He wanted a much to comfort her, but he knew she needed a moment to deal with her grief all over again. “I should have given her a benefit of the doubt.” Isabella moaned, sobbing uncontrollably now. “I knew she loved me, and now that I think

For some reason, Asher found it difficult to face Isabella the next day. Perhaps it was the guilt of having to lie to her every single day that was finally catching up to him. Though he knew deep in his heart that he could never bring himself to hurt her, there was still that, ‘What if?’ Asher knew his father; Silas Marlowe would stop at nothing to hurt the Garcias. His main worry was Isabella finding out the reason he had come to work at the mansion, to begin with. He contemplated telling her the truth. A couple of times. But he couldn’t see a future where she would ever trust him again if he does. “You are not okay,’’ Isabella observed. “And if you tell me it's nothing one more time, I will be very angry.” Asher groaned rubbing his face in despair. They were in the cabin and apparently, he wasn’t so good at masking his turmoil as he had assumed. “I promise it's nothing to be worried about. Just some family drama.” He shrugged nonchalantly hoping she would drop the topic but obviou

Isabella observed her boyfriend closely, and she knew he had something weighing on him, despite his numerous attempts of claiming he is fine. Just a few hours ago, they managed to take pictures of the infamous will and true to Marcia's word, Isabella was indeed the sole owner of her dead mother's wealth. Something Lucas kept from her. Under different circumstances, Asher would be just as happy as Isabella, but how could he be? Ever since Lucas confronted him in his office two days ago, the bodyguard's mind has been in a state of turmoil. What if Lucas knew they were onto him and put up a show to convince him that he isn't the bad guy? But Asher can almost swear that Lucas wasn't acting. As a bodyguard, Asher long learned how to read subtle clues. And there was nothing to prove Lucas wasn't sincerely worried about his daughter. “Goddammit!” Isabella exclaimed, throwing her soiled napkin down and turned fully to face Asher. “What's going on?” Just as Asher opened his mouth to say 'noth