When Thalia next awoke, it was already one in the afternoon.
The other side of the bed was empty; Asher had already risen.
Thalia rubbed her eyes sleepily and lifted the duvet, preparing to get up and freshen herself
Last night, when they’d returned to the bedroom, he’d said he would just hold her as they slept, nothing more–gaa theyy together, his embrace had gradually evolved into something far more passionate.
Thalia stepped out of the bedroom to find Asher sitting on the sofa in the living room<b>, </b>one leg crossed over the other, aptop bnced on his knee.
When he was working seriously, he exuded an utterly captivating charm.
The snow had stopped.
Gentle winter sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft, warm glow over Asher, softening his usually sharp, austere features.
The heating was on in the apartment. Asher wore only a ck shirt, buttoned meticulously to the cor. He gazed at hisptop screen withplete concentration, his face expressionless, his long, elegant fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard. He looked the very picture of restraint and discipline.
Only Thalia knew that those same articte hands had, just hours before, unbuttoned her clothing one button at a time, drawing her into wave after wave of passion.
Only she knew how wild Asher could be beneath thatposed, restrained exterior.
It was the first time she had seen him so focused on his work, the contrast withst night striking.
Thalia found herself mesmerised by the sight.
Asher sensed her gaze and looked up. His stern features instantly softened, and his expressionless face warmed with a tender smile. “Lia<b>, </b>you’re awake?”
Thalia responded with a soft “Mmm” and walked over to sit beside him, tucking her legs beneath her on the sofa and tilting her head to peek at hisptop screen.
Asher spoke gently: “Grandfather has asked me to formally take over thepany. I’ll be rather busy for a while.”
Thalia found this surprising. She had thought Andrew ckwood was currently in charge of the ckwood Group.
It involved internal ckwood family matters, however, so she hadn’t intended to inquire.
13:40
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True
87.5%
To her surprise, Asher volunteered more information.
“The situation with Vanessa is connected to my father’s illegitimate son.”
Asher continued looking at his screen as he spoke<i>, </i>his face betraying no emotion, as if discussing something entirelymonce.
Thalia’s eyes widened in shock. “What illegitimate son?”
There was a slight shift in Asher’s tone. His typing fingers paused, and his eyes reflected something like reluctance
and sadness.
It was the first time Thalia had seen such emotions in his eyes.
Asher’s voice was quiet: “More than twenty years ago, whilst my mother was pregnant, my father had an affair. When my mother was in confinement after giving birth to me, the other woman approached my father with hospital pregnancy test results, attempting to use the child to secure a position in the family. When my mother learnt of this, she suffered an emotional breakdown and developed postpartum depression<b>, </b>nearly attempting suicide by jumping from a building.”
“At the time, my grandparents pressured my father to terminate the pregnancy, but my father genuinely cared for this woman and couldn’t bear to abort their child. He outwardly agreed to end the pregnancy but secretly sent the
woman abroad, concealing this from my grandparents.”
Thalia was too shocked to speak.
She had never heard of this scandal in the ckwood family’s past. They must have suppressed it thoroughly.
Asher continued: “In truth, my father probably loved this other woman. Unfortunately for them, they could never be together properly. My grandmother deeply despised women with no moral boundaries who destroyed others‘ families, and my grandfather, a man of principle, absolutely refused to allow such a woman into our home, tarnishing our family’s reputation.”
“Initially, everyone in the family was deceived, believing he had truly terminated the pregnancy and severed ties with the woman. When I was about five or six, my mother discovered the truth and had a massive row with him. They nearly divorced, which rmed the elders of both families. Their marriage was an alliance, not just a union between two individuals but a significant arrangement between the Lawson and ckwood families with
substantial interests at stake.”
“Naturally, the divorce didn’t proceed. Under pressure from both families, my father cut contact with the woman, but my mother was left with emotional scars. During my childhood, they frequently argued about this woman and
her son.”
“Later, I heard the woman had died. My father wanted to bring his illegitimate son back to acknowledge him formally, but my grandparents remained adamantly opposed. Eventually, the matter was dropped, and after a period of despondency, my father gradually returned to family life.”
Thalia was speechless with shock.
13:40
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True s
87.7%
She could never have imagined that Andrew ckwood, who appeared so refined, courteous, and respectful, was in fact an utterly irresponsible husband who casually phndered outside his marriage.
Thinking of how the gentle J ckwood had nearlymitted suicide. Thalia felt both sympathy and retrospective fear.
If she had actually taken her life, Asher would have grown up motherless. Had that woman brought the illegitimate child into the household, Asher’s life would surely have been miserable.
Thank goodness such a tragedy had been averted.
Noting Thalia’s silence, Asher shifted his gaze from theptop screen to look at her. In his deep, dark eyes lurked a barely perceptible plea.
“Lia, do you think my family is dreadfully dysfunctional? I assure you, I’m nothing like my father. From a very young age, I promised myself I would love only one person in my lifetime–with absolute fidelity and devotion.”
There was something almost humble in his demeanour now.
As if he feared Thalia might think him cut from the same cloth as his father and consequently distance herself from
him.
Thalia’s heart swelled withplex emotions, both bitter and sweet, her eyes growing moist.
The bitterness came from empathy for his childhood experiences and seeing him so vulnerable before her, afraid she might reject him.
The sweetness came from knowing how much he cared for her.
Thalia sniffled slightly and wrapped her arms around Asher, giving him a heartfelt embrace.
The young woman’s eyes glistened with tears, her voice slightly choked: “Asher, I know. I understandpletely.”
She knew he wasn’t that kind of person.
Since being with him, she had never doubted his sincerity.
Asher returned her embrace, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent, feeling profoundly reassured.
Thalia’s voice was soft and soothing, calming the unease in Asher’s heart: “Asher, as long as you don’t leave me first, I’ll never let you go.”
Hearing these words, something resonated deep within Asher’s heart, bringing him to the verge of tears.
His Thalia was so wonderful–how could he ever bear to leave her first?
????
88.0%
When Thalia next awoke, it was already one in the afternoon.
The other side of the bed was empty; Asher had already risen.
Thalia rubbed her eyes sleepily and lifted the duvet, preparing to get up and freshen herself
Last night, when they’d returned to the bedroom, he’d said he would just hold her as they slept, nothing more–gaa theyy together, his embrace had gradually evolved into something far more passionate.
Thalia stepped out of the bedroom to find Asher sitting on the sofa in the living room<b>, </b>one leg crossed over the other, aptop bnced on his knee.
When he was working seriously, he exuded an utterly captivating charm.
The snow had stopped.
Gentle winter sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft, warm glow over Asher, softening his usually sharp, austere features.
The heating was on in the apartment. Asher wore only a ck shirt, buttoned meticulously to the cor. He gazed at hisptop screen withplete concentration, his face expressionless, his long, elegant fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard. He looked the very picture of restraint and discipline.
Only Thalia knew that those same articte hands had, just hours before, unbuttoned her clothing one button at a time, drawing her into wave after wave of passion.
Only she knew how wild Asher could be beneath thatposed, restrained exterior.
It was the first time she had seen him so focused on his work, the contrast withst night striking.
Thalia found herself mesmerised by the sight.
Asher sensed her gaze and looked up. His stern features instantly softened, and his expressionless face warmed with a tender smile. “Lia<b>, </b>you’re awake?”
Thalia responded with a soft “Mmm” and walked over to sit beside him, tucking her legs beneath her on the sofa and tilting her head to peek at hisptop screen.
Asher spoke gently: “Grandfather has asked me to formally take over thepany. I’ll be rather busy for a while.”
Thalia found this surprising. She had thought Andrew ckwood was currently in charge of the ckwood Group.
It involved internal ckwood family matters, however, so she hadn’t intended to inquire.
13:40
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True
87.5%
To her surprise, Asher volunteered more information.
“The situation with Vanessa is connected to my father’s illegitimate son.”
Asher continued looking at his screen as he spoke<i>, </i>his face betraying no emotion, as if discussing something entirelymonce.
Thalia’s eyes widened in shock. “What illegitimate son?”
There was a slight shift in Asher’s tone. His typing fingers paused, and his eyes reflected something like reluctance
and sadness.
It was the first time Thalia had seen such emotions in his eyes.
Asher’s voice was quiet: “More than twenty years ago, whilst my mother was pregnant, my father had an affair. When my mother was in confinement after giving birth to me, the other woman approached my father with hospital pregnancy test results, attempting to use the child to secure a position in the family. When my mother learnt of this, she suffered an emotional breakdown and developed postpartum depression<b>, </b>nearly attempting suicide by jumping from a building.”
“At the time, my grandparents pressured my father to terminate the pregnancy, but my father genuinely cared for this woman and couldn’t bear to abort their child. He outwardly agreed to end the pregnancy but secretly sent the
woman abroad, concealing this from my grandparents.”
Thalia was too shocked to speak.
She had never heard of this scandal in the ckwood family’s past. They must have suppressed it thoroughly.
Asher continued: “In truth, my father probably loved this other woman. Unfortunately for them, they could never be together properly. My grandmother deeply despised women with no moral boundaries who destroyed others‘ families, and my grandfather, a man of principle, absolutely refused to allow such a woman into our home, tarnishing our family’s reputation.”
“Initially, everyone in the family was deceived, believing he had truly terminated the pregnancy and severed ties with the woman. When I was about five or six, my mother discovered the truth and had a massive row with him. They nearly divorced, which rmed the elders of both families. Their marriage was an alliance, not just a union between two individuals but a significant arrangement between the Lawson and ckwood families with
substantial interests at stake.”
“Naturally, the divorce didn’t proceed. Under pressure from both families, my father cut contact with the woman, but my mother was left with emotional scars. During my childhood, they frequently argued about this woman and
her son.”
“Later, I heard the woman had died. My father wanted to bring his illegitimate son back to acknowledge him formally, but my grandparents remained adamantly opposed. Eventually, the matter was dropped, and after a period of despondency, my father gradually returned to family life.”
Thalia was speechless with shock.
13:40
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True s
87.7%
She could never have imagined that Andrew ckwood, who appeared so refined, courteous, and respectful, was in fact an utterly irresponsible husband who casually phndered outside his marriage.
Thinking of how the gentle J ckwood had nearlymitted suicide. Thalia felt both sympathy and retrospective fear.
If she had actually taken her life, Asher would have grown up motherless. Had that woman brought the illegitimate child into the household, Asher’s life would surely have been miserable.
Thank goodness such a tragedy had been averted.
Noting Thalia’s silence, Asher shifted his gaze from theptop screen to look at her. In his deep, dark eyes lurked a barely perceptible plea.
“Lia, do you think my family is dreadfully dysfunctional? I assure you, I’m nothing like my father. From a very young age, I promised myself I would love only one person in my lifetime–with absolute fidelity and devotion.”
There was something almost humble in his demeanour now.
As if he feared Thalia might think him cut from the same cloth as his father and consequently distance herself from
him.
Thalia’s heart swelled withplex emotions, both bitter and sweet, her eyes growing moist.
The bitterness came from empathy for his childhood experiences and seeing him so vulnerable before her, afraid she might reject him.
The sweetness came from knowing how much he cared for her.
Thalia sniffled slightly and wrapped her arms around Asher, giving him a heartfelt embrace.
The young woman’s eyes glistened with tears, her voice slightly choked: “Asher, I know. I understandpletely.”
She knew he wasn’t that kind of person.
Since being with him, she had never doubted his sincerity.
Asher returned her embrace, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent, feeling profoundly reassured.
Thalia’s voice was soft and soothing, calming the unease in Asher’s heart: “Asher, as long as you don’t leave me first, I’ll never let you go.”
Hearing these words, something resonated deep within Asher’s heart, bringing him to the verge of tears.
His Thalia was so wonderful–how could he ever bear to leave her first?
????
88.0%