CHAPTER 23
ASHER P.O.V
I rushed her to our family doctor to have her checked. Thankfully, apart from the head injury, she would be fine.
I stayed with her all night.
Even when she had a panic attack… I didn't know what to do.
I've never cared for someone like this before. Never needed to.
All I could think of… was to hold her.
So I did.
And somehow… it worked.
She calmed down in my arms.
That alone was enough to shake me.
The thought of something happening to her—of losing her—was unbearable.
When I was sure she had fallen into a deep sleep, I quietly stepped out.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"In your office, sir."
The moment I stepped in—
I was slammed across the room with brute force.
My back hit the wall hard.
"Where is she?" he roared.
I straightened slowly, dusting off my clothes like nothing happened.
"Safe. With me."
He scoffed, eyes blazing.
"And she wasn't safe with me?"
"Apparently not," I replied coldly. "Who in their right mind takes a girl to a death race? I know you're insane, Tyler—but why drag her into it?"
"How I treat her is none of your business," he snapped. "Now give her to me."
He lunged.
His fist came straight for my face—but I caught it mid-air.
We stood inches apart, eyes locked, tension thick enough to suffocate.
"Why do you care about her all of a sudden, Asher?" he growled. "Is this another one of your schemes?"
"I don't answer to you."
I shoved him hard.
He crashed into the bookshelf, wood cracking under the impact as books scattered across the floor.
"Before, maybe I didn't," he said, rising slowly, blood dripping from his lip. "But now? Since it involves her… you do."
I crossed the distance between us, grabbing him by the collar.
"Who are you to her, Tyler?" I demanded.
"None of your business."
His voice dropped—dangerous.
"I don't have time for this. Give her to me, and I'll leave."
"No."
One word.
Firm. Final.
His expression darkened.
In the next second, he shoved me back into the shelves, sending everything crashing down.
"I know we've had our differences," he said, voice low and lethal. "But this has nothing to do with her."
"Who said this has anything to do with you?" I shot back.
"Then why are you keeping her?"
"Because I can."
Silence.
Cold. Deadly silence.
Then—
"Very well, Asher Slade," he said, straightening his clothes. "But remember this… if a single strand of her hair is out of place—your entire bloodline will pay for it."
I smirked.
"Is that supposed to scare me?"
"Not yet."
And with that, he walked out.
I wiped the blood from my nose.
"Lunatic."
"Erm… sir?" Felix stepped in, eyes scanning the destruction. "What happened here?"
"Tyler happened."
He sighed. "Anytime you two meet, I end up cleaning a disaster."
"Tell that idiot to stay away from me."
"But sir… if I may ask… what does he want this time?"
"…Alexia."
Felix paused. "Why?"
"I don't know yet," I admitted. "But there's something there. A connection."
"Then why keep Miss Williams here?"
I looked toward the door… toward where she was.
"I want to observe something."
"And what would that be, sir?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
I didn't wait for another question.
I went back to her.
She was still asleep.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful for someone who just came that close to death.
I sat beside her… watching.
Hours passed.
I didn't move.
Didn't want to.
Morning came, and I had matters to attend to, so I left briefly.
But when I returned—
Voices.
Clara.
Of course.
She was already annoying Alexia, offering to move her to a hospital.
Not happening.
"She's not leaving," I said firmly as I stepped in.
"But—"
"Clara."
That was enough.
She stopped.
Alexia frowned slightly. Her headache must be back.
Good. Maybe now they'd all shut up.
"Leave," I ordered.
After finally getting them out, the room fell silent again.
Just her… and me.
I stared at her for a moment.
Then—
"What happened that day?"
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
She looked at me, confused.
"I just felt dizzy, okay? Wait… how did you know? Were you stalking me?"
That wasn't enough.
Not even close.
"I have better things to do than stalk you."
The moment the words left my mouth—
Regret.
"Nice one," Ethan muttered.
"Shut up."
"And no," I added coldly, "I just happened to be there… and saw how reckless you are."
"Reckless?!" she snapped. "Mistakes happen! How does that make me reckless?"
"Why were you even there?" I shot back. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that place is?!"
My voice rose.
I didn't care.
Didn't she care about herself at all?
"Why do you care?" she fired. "What am I even doing here? You ignored me for weeks, then suddenly show up and start scolding me like a child!"
"Maybe if you didn't act like one, you wouldn't be treated like one."
"I can do whatever I want!" she snapped. "It has nothing to do with you!"
"You're impossible."
"Fine! Then leave!" she shot back. "Just go!"
I stared at her for a second.
Then turned away.
"Do whatever you want," I said coldly. "Just… not until you're better."
I walked out.
But the truth?
I didn't mean a single word of that.
I cared.
Too much.
And that… was the problem.
"Of course you do," Ethan chuckled.
"…Not now, Ethan."