In the garden, hyacinths released their subtle fragrance as the cold wind brought gentle rain.
Raindropsnded softly on Thalia’s hair, running down in tiny rivulets.
Thalia stood in the wind, looking unsteady on her feet.
Her influenza hadn’t fully subsided, and standing in the cold wind for too long made her head begin to ache again.
Hearing Asher’s words, Thalia concealed the sorrow in her eyes, raising her gaze to meet his. “Yes, you should remember to take it off in future.”
Asher’s throat tightened painfully.
Thalia’s voice was soft, carried to Asher’s ears by the wind. Despite her efforts to hide it, her tone was heartbreakingly fragile. “I understand. When you loved me, it was real. And when you stopped loving me, that was real too.”
A sudden chill ran down Asher’s spine, quickly spreading throughout his entire body.
Thalia’s eyes reflected a calm resignation, a serenity tinged with profound sadness. “I admit I couldn’t ept it at first. You promised you’d always be by my side. I couldn’t understand why you changed so suddenly. I tried to find reasons, tried to understand your difficulties, but you said I was deluding myself. Now I understand–who can predict matters of the heart?”
Asher felt a sharp pain in his chest, a sh of anguish crossing his eyes.
“Promises only count when you’re in love,” Thalia said, her voice so faint it was nearly lost in the wind.
As Asher listened to her words and observed her mncholic face, an uncontroble fear spread through him.
He suddenly felt terrified.
He feared that once he resolved the situation with Tom Malfoy, they might never be able to return to what they once
had.
He couldn’t imagine a future without Lia.
Through the rain, Thalia gazed quietly at Asher’s features.
After a long moment, Thalia smiled at Asher, forcing a lightness into her voice: “Asher, I wish you happiness.”
Asher’s pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively reached out as if to grasp something, but the young woman had already turned away without a backward nce. The tassels of her burgundy scarf brushed against the back of his
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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
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hand, a light, tickling sensation.
Pain etched itself across Asher’s face as he unconsciously took two steps forward, as if to follow her.
Finally, unable to contain himself, he called out: “Lia…”
The young woman paused momentarily, but quickly resumed walking.
She didn’t look back.
Not even once.
Asher took two steps in pursuit before suddenly stopping.
He told himself he couldn’t continue following her.
If he did, all his efforts would be wasted, and Thalia’s suffering would have been for nothing.
He had to resolve the threat from Tom Malfoy before he could return to Lia’s side.
Asher returned to his private residence.
The spacious room felt cold and empty.
Asher sat on the sofa, as if his soul had been hollowed out, staring nkly into space.
The sun set in the west.
Thest rays of sunset illuminated the destion on the man’s face.
He sat there alone, motionless, like a statue.
The daylight faded as dusk descended.
The room gradually darkened.
After an indeterminate time, Asher slowly lowered his gaze, staring fixedly at the watch on his wrist.
After a long while, Asher carefully removed the watch and ced it gently in its box.
As he closed the lid, a burning sensation suddenly spread in his eyes.
The feeling was unfamiliar.
It came suddenly and forcefully, leaving him defenseless.
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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
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Drip.
A tear fell onto the metal box.
The darkness concealed his reddened eyes, but the moonlight traced the outline of his solitary, forlorn figure.
A few dayster, guests arrived at the ckwood Estate.
The Fitzgeralds were a distinguished family in London, known for their academic heritage.
Professor Fitzgerald was a renowned English literature professor at Cambridge University. His wife, Cami Fitzgerald, was a celebrated contemporary essayist. The couple had only one son, who worked as an Administrative Officer in the local government. Their daughter–inw was a member of The National Writers‘ Union and a popr novelist. Their granddaughter, Alice Fitzgerald, hadpleted both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Oxford University, one of the top–ranked universities in the country.
Cami Fitzgerald and Mabel ckwood, Asher’s grandmother, had long been acquainted, and due to the
Fitzgerald son’s governmental position, the two families asionally socialized.
Before the holiday, Cami had invited Mabel to a hyacinth viewing party, where Alice Fitzgerald had made an
impression on Mabel with her conduct and conversation.
Upon returning home, Mabel had conceived the idea of matchmaking between her grandson Asher and Alice Fitzgerald.
The ckwoods didn’tck wealth, but Mabel favored the schrly Fitzgerald family over wealthy families like the
Winters.
After Mabel shared her thoughts with Cami, she found that the elderdy’s thinking aligned perfectly with her
own.
Cami had just this one son working in government. If the two families were joined by marriage, the ckwood connection would certainly benefit her son’s career prospects.
When Asher refused to visit the Fitzgerald home, Mabel instead invited the Fitzgerald family to their estate.
Mabel had kept this visit a secret from Asher, merely telling him that they would be having a family dinner and that his presence was required.
Since most ckwood Industriespanies would resume operations after St. Patrick’s Day, and Lord ckwood Sr. would be returning to Parliament, the family traditionally held a dinner at this time. Thus, Asher had no reason to suspect anything unusual about his grandmother’s request.
As soon as Asher entered the house, he heardughtering from the main hall.
He handed his coat to a maid and asked, “Has someonee to visit today?”
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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress
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The maid smiled and replied, “Yes, sir. The l’itzgerald family hase to pay their respects for the holiday.”
Asher frowned slightly at this. “The Fitzgeralds? Which Fitzgeralds?”
The maid answered, “The same Fitzgerald family that Lady ckwood wanted you and your mother to visit. Their granddaughter is here as well.”
With this information, Asher immediately understood.
It seemed the family dinner was merely a pretext; his grandmother’s true intention was to arrange a match for him.
As they were speaking, Grace spotted Asher.
She hurried over, appearing quite urgent. “Asher, Alice Fitzgerald is here. This is a matchmaking setup. I’d advise you to find an excuse to leave.”
“Is that Asher who’s arrived?” Lady ckwood’s voice called out, causing Grace’s expression to freeze.
The elderlydy approached, arm–in–arm with Alice Fitzgerald, smiling broadly. “Asher, you’ve finally arrived. We’ve been waiting for you for quite some time.”
Asher’s gaze barely skimmed over Alice’s face, his tone reflectingplete indifference. “Grandmother, I’m afraid there’s been an urgent matter at thepany that requires my attention. I won’t be staying for dinner. I just came to collect some documents from Father’s study.”
“But St. Patrick’s Day has only just passed. The holiday hasn’t even ended yet,” the elderlydy said, her prating gaze sweeping over Asher. Her tone was measured but pointed. “I am, after all, a member of the board of directors and a shareholder. Surely any urgent project would require approval from the board? I’m not aware of any urgent projects at thepany recently.”
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