The warm rays of sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains of the small room behind the bookshelf in Asher’s office. The space was simple yet cozy, designed for quick rests during late nights at work. But this morning, that warmth felt slightly intrusive. Asher blinked slowly, trying to ignore the light that danced across his face, disappearing for a moment only to return.He let out a soft sigh, his sleep interrupted by something—or rather, someone—moving near the light. Asher didn’t get up immediately, choosing to remain lying down and enjoying the unusual calm. Someone was there.Sitting quietly at the edge of the bed was Alicia. She wore a light blue blouse paired with a cream pencil skirt that elegantly accentuated her silhouette. Her hair, usually loose, was tied back in a low ponytail, with a few strands softly framing her face. The sunlight reflected off her fingers as she played with the curtain, casting small shadows on Asher’s face.Alicia smiled gently, her eyes a

Asher leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the armrest while the other twirled a pen between his fingers. His sharp eyes studied the woman standing before him. Oriana appeared calm on the surface, but Asher could sense the turmoil vibrating inside her mind—cursing, panicking, desperately searching for an excuse to save herself.A small smile curled on Asher’s lips—not a friendly one, but something laced with irony.“Forgive me, Mr. Dixon.” Oriana’s voice finally broke the silence, slightly hesitant but still striving to sound professional. “Have I done something wrong? Why did you want to meet me?”Kailos, standing beside the desk, placed a stack of documents in front of her. Without any expression, he slid the file toward her with a single firm motion. “You should read it yourself.”Oriana swallowed hard, her fingers trembling as she flipped open the first page. Her eyes moved quickly, scanning through reports of disputes, sabotage, and concrete evidence of her betrayal agai

The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows along the glass walls that overlooked the now-quiet city. Asher sat in his chair, staring at the pile of documents scattered across his desk—some still sealed, others already read and signed.He leaned back, rubbing his temple with his fingertips. His mind was still preoccupied with his conversation with Aberon earlier."The higher you climb, the more people will try to pull you down."Asher let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. Dad was right. There are still so many things I need to be cautious about.Before his thoughts could wander further, a knock on the door broke the silence. Asher straightened up, adjusting his posture."Come in."The door opened, and Joseph stepped inside with a serious expression, his eyes carrying something beyond a routine report."How’s Antony’s situation?" Asher asked immediately, his tone remaining calm, though he had already predicted most of the answer."Antony has officially been thro

Asher’s footsteps echoed steadily down the hallway of Pervaz Corporation, but his gaze never left the woman beside him. Alicia walked with a vacant stare, her expression carrying an unease she could not hide. Asher didn’t need to ask. He already knew what was running through her mind. Fear. Shame. Doubt. Alicia was afraid of losing him. Afraid that this scandal would make him leave her. Asher let out a quiet sigh before stopping in his tracks. Alicia, too lost in her thoughts, was forced to halt beside him. Her brows furrowed in confusion when Asher turned to face her, his gaze intense and unwavering. "I am not ashamed, Alicia." His voice was calm, yet firm. Alicia’s eyes widened slightly. Her lips parted, but no words came out. "Even if your family is caught in this scandal, I will never leave you or break off our engagement." In an instant, the crushing weight in her chest lightened just a little. Alicia’s gaze softened, shifting into something more vulnerable. She had pr

Asher didn’t go straight back to the mansion. Instead, he went to Alicia’s apartment, as per Aldric’s request. His future father-in-law had informed him that Alicia had locked herself in her apartment ever since the scandal involving Pervaz erupted. Worried about her, Asher decided to check on her himself.Inside the apartment, Asher felt a slight suffocation, as if the air was heavy with prolonged silence. There was no sound except for the ticking of the wall clock and the faint rustling of the chocolate bar the woman was chewing.He sat on the sofa, his back slightly leaning against it, yet the tension in his body was undeniable. His eyes caught every detail in the room—from the scattered pillows on the floor to the empty coffee cup on the table to the almost-finished box of chocolates. But what captured his attention the most was Alicia herself.She looked different. No neatly pressed blazer, no proud stance, no sharp gaze like the ones she wore in business meetings.Alicia sat slo