---- But even a blind person could see that Asher was doing it deliberately. And since Lucia was paying for the meal, would she murder Thalia afterward? Thalia''s strong moralpass made the lunch feel like sitting on pins and needles. That''s what she got for considering Lucia a friend. After lunch, Asher escorted Thalia back to her firm while Lucia left on her own. At the entrance to the building, Asher leaned down and ced a gentle kiss on Thalia''s forehead. "I won''te up with you.


    I have some matters to attend to at the office." Thalia asked, "Were you doing that on purpose earlier?" "Doing what?" "Showing off in front of Lucia. The prawn peeling, the fish bones, all of it." Asher replied, "It wasn''t really intentional.


    I would have done the same even if she wasn''t there." ---- During lunch, when Lucia had said "I had no idea you were the type to peel prawns for someone," Thalia suddenly remembered that whenever they''d gone out for seafood during their rtionship, Asher had always peeled prawns for her. And removing fish bones wasn''t a first-time urrence either. Thalia was about to say something when Asher added, "Though I did want to make it clear to her that my heart and eyes are only for you.


    Hopefully she''ll give up on me sooner rather thanter." Thalia thought about Lucia''s request that morning and asked, "Did you know next Saturday is Lucia''s birthday?" His expression cooled. "No, I didn''t." In truth, Lucia had invited him to her birthday celebration every year, but he''d never attended and had never bothered to remember the date. So he genuinely didn''t know. Seeing his response, Thalia wasn''t sure how to continue. Asher noticed her hesitation. ---- "What is it?" he asked.


    Thalia looked down at her feet. "She invited me to her birthday party." "Mm, do you want to go?" Asher asked gently. "You don''t have to if you don''t want to." "It''s not that I don''t want to go," Thalia said. "It''s just..." "Just what?" "She wants me to bring you along." Asher asked, "And what do you think about that?" Thalia paused. "I already promised her I would." "Alright, then I''ll go with you." Thalia looked up at him in surprise.


    "You''re not angry?" "What would I be angry about?" Asher''s eyes were full of tenderness. Thalia bit her lip, finding it hard to meet his gaze. "I knew how she feels about you, but I still agreed to bring you to her ---- birthday party. Aren''t you worried I don''t care enough about you?" "Do you care about me?" Asher countered, his voice low and maic. "Of course I do." Thalia didn''t hesitate. "Then that''s all that matters," Asher replied, his tone deep and gentle.


    "As long as you care about me, that''s enough. If you ''want me to go, I''ll go. If you don''t want me to go, I won''t." "Let''s go. I already promised her I''d bring you." "All right," Asher said warmly. "Let''s go and show everyone just how much in love we are." Thalia: That wasn''t exactly the point of going.