---- Chapter 225 "Tm not alone," Asher''s voice was husky. "Matt and I are taking turns driving. Lia, I need to see you in person to know you''re safe." It was over 600 miles-normally a ten-hour drive without traffic. With the flooding disaster in New York, it would take even longer. Thalia''s grip tightened on the phone, her heart trembling, eyes burning with unshed tears. Though deeply touched, her words came out defensive. "Who asked you toe looking for me?
It''s dangerous with all this flooding. Stop trying to be heroic, okay? If something happens to the ckwood heir, I can''t take that responsibility. I''m fine-just go back home. Don''te." Asher gave a self-deprecatingugh. "Nobody asked me toe. I wanted to. Lia, don''t worry-if anything happens, it''s my own doing, It has nothing to do with you." Thalia''s throat tightened, tears welling in her eyes. "Asher, I forbid you toe.
Go back now!" ---- The vige was remote, surrounded by floodwaters, and possibly threatened by mudslides. Ashering to find her was too dangerous. She couldn''t let him put himself at risk. But Asher wasn''t listening. His voice carried a hint of choking emotion: "Lia, if something happened to you, life wouldn''t mean much to me anyway." Thalia''s heart trembled violently. Then came wave after wave of sharp pain. "Tm not afraid of danger," Asher''s voice was hoarse.
"I''m only afraid of never seeing you again." After the rain, the sky was crystal clear. The setting sun emerged slowly from behind the clouds, spilling orange-red twilight across the horizon. The clouds looked as if they''d been set aze, as dazzling as a dreamlike fairnd. Thalia let out a soft breath, tears blurring her vision. ---- That night, Thalia couldn''t sleep. She thought of Asher, her heart filled with anxiety.
Though the rain had stopped, the vige was remote, and the floodwaters hadn''tpletely receded. She constantly worried something might happen to him. As she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Aknock came at the door. Thalia got up to answer. Manon stood outside. "What is it?" Thalia asked. Manon handed Thalia her phone. "Thalia, that gentleman who called this afternoon just sent a text message. Take a look." Thalia''s breath caught. She looked down at the phone. [Don''t worry about me.
Sleep well. See you tomorrow.]