<b>Chapter </b>633
Chasel was still reeling, intoxicated by the potent pheromones of his beloved, unable to pull himself away<b>. </b>
But Cassius‘ heart clenched tight, veins bulging in his strong hand as he forcefully pried Chasel’s fingers open and stepped out of his embrace.
A wave of loss crashed through Chasel, freezing him in ce.
“Yeah, Suri?”
Cassius responded with a cool detachment, turning to stride across the room and open the door without hesitation.
Suri stood outside, a smile ying on her l*ps. “I knew it. Chasel had to be here with you. It’s always been clear you two have a special bond.”
A special bond.
Indeed.
Cassius‘ eyes flickered, and he could only muster a shallow smile in return.
“Chasel,e with me to my room. There’s something I need to discuss with you.” Suri beckoned Chasel with a crooked finger, her smile unchanging.
Chasel felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.
He gave Cassius a deep, searching look.
But Cassius‘ gaze remained lowered, avoiding the intensity in Chasel’s eyes.
Cassius followed Suri back to her room.
The door shut, the lock clicked, and the warmth in Suri’s eyes vanished.
“What’s up? Why thete–night summons?” Chasel feigned exhaustion, punctuating his words with a yawn.
“First thing tomorrow, you’re heading back to the Bright estate,” she said tly.
Chasel’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening. “What? Go home? Why should I go back there?”
“Ever since you came back from abroad, you’ve been staying here. This isn’t your home, nor is it a hotel, and I’m not thedy of Silveke Harbor. It’s inconvenient for you to keep staying here, and you’re causing trouble for Cassius and Evadne.”
Chasel’s face flushed with anger. “But Chairman Emeric’s not well yet! I’m his doctor; I need to see him through this!” “We don’t need you anymore!”
Suri’s voice rose, her words sparking an argument. “Emeric’s almost recovered, and the Ashbournes have enough people to care for him. We can always find another doctor, or I could even bring in a specialist from abroad if need be!”
“Damn it, what is this? Cutting ties when you think I’m useless<b>?” </b>
“Whatever you want to call it<b>, </b>just be gone by tomorrow!”
Chasel felt like he was on the verge of <b>a </b>stroke, his narrowed eyes zing. “Aunt Suri, why are you suddenly doing this<b>? </b>Why are you kicking me out? I’m not leaving!”
<b>“</b>You’re forcing my hand.”
Suri clenched her teeth and walked over to the nightstand, pulling out a man envelope and mming it onto the coffee table.
Photos spilled <b>out </b><b>onto </b>the <b>surface</b>.
Chasel bent down <b>to </b><b>pick </b>them up<b>, </b>his hands trembling violently, his face turning <b>pale</b><b>. </b>
“Aunt Suri, how could <b>you </b>investigate <b>me</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
The explicit photos were of him and his past boyfriends from the gay scerle–a scandalous chronicle!
“Investigate you? Ha, your ridiculous affairs <i>don’t </i><b>need </b>investigating. <b>My </b>dear nephew<b>, </b>you’re <b>the </b>talk of <b>the </b>town, <b>the </b>belle of <b>the </b>ball”
Suri’s anger dissolved into a mockingugh. <b>“</b>These photos fell into <b>my </b><bp </b>without me lifting a finger. It just goes to show how little you care about your reputation. Now you’re ying innocent<b>?” </b>
Chasel clenched his teeth, crushing the photos in his fist, wishing he could obliterate his past self.
15.03
Yes, his aunt <b>was </b><b>right</b>.
<b>In </b>the past<b>, </b>he was <b>reckless </b><b>and </b>promiscuous. He lived for <b>pleasure</b>.
But <b>now</b><b>, </b><b>he </b><b>wanted </b>nothing more <b>than </b><b>to </b>drop anchor <b>in </b><b>Cassius</b>‘ harbor forever.
<b>Yet </b>Suri chose this moment to dredge up his past andy it all out before him, causing him heart–wrenching pain and a rude <b>awakening</b>.
<b>*</b>Chasel<b>, </b><b>whatever </b>you did overseas is your business. Your father and brother didn’t keep tabs on you, and I’m an outsider since I married out. But Cassius <b>is </b>the Ashbourne family’s pir, the eldest son in whom Emeric has ced all his hopes. You cannot set <b>your </b>sights <b>on </b>him!”
Chasel staggered back, a sharp pain in his chest.
“You watched me grow up. When my father was too busy, it was you who helped me with my studies and yed with me. You know me better than anyone else in the Bright family.”
Suri slumped onto the sofa, a burning frustration in her chest. “I’ve known about your feelings for Cassius for some time, but I wasn’t <b>sure </b>until I found these photos and saw how you acted with him today. My worst fears have been confirmed. Chasel, Cassius isn’t like those men you’ve fooled around with. If you ruin him, the Ashbourne family is finished. Emeric would be devastated<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“Why does anyone have to know? If no one knows, then it’s fine!” Chasel finally lost control, his eyes brimming with tears as he shouted.
Suri was taken aback. “What did you say?”
<b>“</b>Cassius feels the same about me. I like him so much.”
Chasel clenched his fists, tears shimmering in his eyes, yet a smile broke across his face. “No, it’s not just like. I love him. Aunt Suri, I love Cassius. I love him so much. No matter what, I won’t leave him!”
Suri’s world went dark.
Her loyalty to the Ashbourne family and its business interests meant she had to stifle any threat to the family’s stability at its inception–including this forbidden love.
The Ashbourne family was amercial titan<b>, </b><b>a </b>towering dynasty. With prestige came istion.
Cassius was President K, the linchpin of the family. If anyone with a hidden agenda got hold of this and stirred up trouble<b>, </b>the consequences were unthinkable.
The Ashbourne Group, even the K Group, could be shaken to their very foundations.
Suri’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. After a brief silence, she steeled herself and spoke with an icy edge.
“You genuinely like Cassius, that’s clear. But does Cassius really like you?”
“Why wouldn’t he? He’s just not good at showing it!”
“Not good at showing it<b>?</b><b>” </b>Suri scoffed. “<b>As </b><b>far </b>as I know, Cassius <b>isn’t </b>the strong, silent type. He just can’t be bothered with small <b>talk</b>. <b>He’s </b>only stringing you along because of family ties; he doesn’t have the heart <b>to </b>reject you outright.”
<b>Suri </b><b>leaned </b>back, her mockingugh chilling to the bone. “Even if <b>he’s </b>momentarily dazzled by you, what then? You’d abandon <b>everything </b>for him, but he wouldn’t tarnish his reputation or drag his name through the mud for you. You think he’d risk a media storm<b>? </b>Besides, Cassius <b>is </b><b>a </b>devout Christian. Even if he doesn’t be a CEO, he’d be a pastor. By clinging <b>to </b>him, do you want <b>to </b><b>be </b><b>the </b>reason he’s cast out <b>by </b>the divine<b>? </b>Do you want him to be damned<b>? </b><b>If </b>you truly love him, <b>don’t </b>destroy him.”
<b>Chasel </b><b>felt </b><b>as </b><b>if </b>he <b>had </b>been pierced by <b>a </b>thousand arrows<b>, </b>his blood draining from <b>a </b><b>heart </b><b>riddled </b><b>with </b>wounds.
“<b>We’re </b><b>not </b><b>kids </b><b>anymore</b>, <b>Chasel</b>. <b>With </b><b>all </b><b>the </b>rtionships you’ve <b>had</b>, <b>you </b>should <b>be </b>more <b>realistic</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Suri’s expression was <b>icy </b>as <b>she </b><b>delivered </b>another crushing <b>blow</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>You’ve </b><b>been </b><b>living </b><b>here</b><b>, </b>doing <b>so </b>much for the Ashbourne family. <b>Does </b><b>your </b><b>father </b>or your brother <b>even </b>know<b>? </b><b>If </b>you don’t <b>take </b>my advice, <b>I’ll </b>have <b>to </b><b>tell them </b><b>everything</b>. <b>The </b><b>Bright </b>family despises <b>any </b>association with <b>the </b>Ashbournes. You know <b>what </b><b>will </b>happen <b>if </b>word <b>gets </b>out<b>!</b>”
When <b>Chasel </b>stepped out <b>of </b><b>the </b>room, he seemed <b>like </b>a <b>shell </b>of <b>himself</b>.
He gasped for <b>air</b><b>, </b>his breaths ragged, <b>leaning </b><b>against </b><b>the </b>cold <b>wall </b>for <b>what </b>felt like <b>an </b><b>eternity before </b>he could muster a shred <b>of </b>strength to move forward, <b>step </b><b>by </b><b>step</b>.
Yet, in his wake<b>, </b>at <b>the </b>turn <b>of </b>the staircase.
Cassius was shrouded <b>in </b><b>the </b>dim shadows, watching <b>the </b>tall<b>, </b>handsome figure that was <b>on </b><b>the </b>verge of copse. His eyes <b>half</b>–closed, he clenched the hand <b>by </b><b>his </b>side<b>, </b>a <b>silent </b>testament <b>to </b><b>the </b>turmoil <b>within</b>.