Chapter 5

“Why is it you?” The person standing before Asher wasn’t Lila. It was nothing more than a trick of his mind. That figure was Serena.

Serena frowned slightly, putting on a pitiful act. “Asher, Lila spread all those rumors about me before. My reputation is in tatters now. Can you help me clear things up?”

For the first time, Asher looked at her coldly. “Where’s Ethan? Is he dead?”

Serena froze, caught off guard by the venom in his tone. She asked, “How could you say something like that? Don’t you feel even a shred of pity for me? Ethan has his own matters to deal with and no Asher interrupted her with a slap across her face.

Serena stared at Asher in utter disbelief. “You slapped me? Asher, do you even have a conscience left?”

“The fact that I haven’t killed you yet is my conscience.” Asher’s years of authority and dominance radiated off him like a thunderstorm, silencing Serena instantly. Her face went pale as she swallowed her protests.

Without sparing her another glance, Asher coldly ordered his men to throw her out.

One investigation after another and countless tests and reports had all pointed to the same conclusion that Lila had committed suicide, her body consumed in fire.

But Asher refused to believe any of it.

Before Lila disappeared, she had handed evidence of Serena and Asher’s alleged affair to some of the most ruthless tabloids, the kind that would do anything for money and attention.

The Whitman family was caught in a media storm, with rumors flying so fast that they even shook the stock market.

But Asher struck back by unleashing a relentless campaign to pin all the blame on Serena. In the chaos, Ethan seized the opportunity to divorce Serena, leaving her as the scapegoat for everything.

Speculation ran wild about what kind of fallout had erupted between two of the most powerful families. But no one truly understood what Lila’s death meant.

Asher kept every trace of ash from the fire, preserving it carefully. He could only find even the slightest moment of sleep in that burnt–out ruin.

In yet another dream, Asher once again saw Lila. In this dream, she spoke coldly, telling him that the one thing she regretted most was meeting him.

Asher felt a sharp pain in his chest, but strangely, there was also a trace of peace. He thought, “No matter what, I just want to know you’re okay, whether you blame or hate me. As long as you’re doing well, I won’t disturb you again. But where are you now?”

Asher by the collar. Without a word, Ethan started beating Asher. The two powerful men fought fiercely in the small room. Later, both faces were bruised.

Eventually, they each grabbed a bottle of alcohol, sat in opposite corners of the room, and stared up at the sky.

Ethan said, “When I handed Lila over to you, I thought I could relax. I thought you wouldn’t let her down, but you’re nothing but scum!”

Asher hissed, wiping the blood from his mouth. For a moment, he couldn’t help but find it all absurd. “If I’m scum, what are you? A heartless fool? We’re both the same.”

When people said harsh things to her or did things that would hurt her, she wouldn’t get angry. She’d just speak softly and try to work things out.

“But she was too sensitive. She saw everything. She saw all the good you did, all the bad. She knew it all. And once she made up her mind to leave you, there was no going back. No chance to fix things.”

“So, just stop looking for her. If she’s decided to leave, let her go.”

Asher laughed through his tears. “Let her go…”