Chapter 3

The rain battered the floor-to-ceiling windows. I stared at the text, my fingers hovering above the screen, unable to reply.

Asher Greene—

That name was like a sharp knife, easily cutting open the memories I had carefully sealed.

The phone suddenly vibrated, startling me nearly into dropping it.

It was an unknown number, and I couldn't resist pressing the answer button.

"Hello?"

I lowered my voice, fearing to wake the person in the master bedroom.

"Adeline, long time no see."

A deep male voice came from the other end, with a lazy smile.

"How's life as Mrs. Reed?"

I gripped the phone tightly: "How do you know my number?"

"I always know what I want to know."

He paused, "Like I know you're hiding in the guest room crying right now."

I quickly looked around, feeling as if he was watching me from a corner: "Are you spying on me?"

"I just happened to see your husband with another woman going to a hotel yesterday after I returned to the country, so I guessed you weren't doing well."

I bit my lip, a sharp pain piercing my heart.

His voice suddenly turned serious, "Open the door, I'm downstairs at your house."

"What?"

I rushed to the window and indeed saw a black Maybach parked in the rain, its headlights casting blurry halos in the rain.

"Are you crazy? This is Gideon's mansion!"

"So what?"

He chuckled, "Afraid your husband will be jealous?"

"Your husband already has a new girlfriend. I don't mind being your boyfriend. It's fair like that."

I bit my lip, not answering. He always teased like this, often leaving me blushing and at a loss for words.

In the sound of the rain, I heard the car door close on the other end, followed by the sound of leather shoes stepping into a puddle.

He really got out of the car.

"Asher Greene! Don't you—"

"Either you come down, or I ring the doorbell."

He interrupted me, "Choose one."

I hurriedly put on a coat and slipped downstairs barefoot.

As I opened the side door of the mansion, cold rain splashed on my ankles.

Asher stood at the bottom of the steps with a black umbrella, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders.

In three years, a small scar had appeared at the corner of his eye, adding a dangerous allure to him.

"You..."

I was about to speak when he suddenly stepped forward, tilting the umbrella to cover me.

Too close. Close enough for me to smell the faint ebony scent on him, just like I remembered.

"Why are you crying?"

He wiped my tears with his thumb, the warmth of his touch making me flinch. Then he lifted my arm, placing my foot on his shoe.

"Did Gideon bully you?"

I quickly stepped back, my back hitting the cold door frame.

"It's none of your business."

Asher's eyes darkened, and he suddenly pulled a shell from his pocket.

"Remember this?"

In the moonlight, the crack on the shell was clear—

It was from when I accidentally cut him by the sea in our junior year.

Memories surged like waves, merging the Asher who stayed on the phone with me all night because I was afraid of the dark, with the dangerous man before me.

"Adeline..."

He took a step forward, the umbrella shielding us from the world, "I can help you."

"Help me with what?"

"Leave Gideon."

His voice was a soft sigh, "Just say the word."

Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking came from the second floor.

I looked up, the master bedroom curtains swaying violently—someone was there.

Asher followed my gaze, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Looks like your husband is awake."