<b>Chapter </b><b>117 </b>


    Ashton noticed Briar was spacing out and straightened up a bit, his eyes burning into her.


    Feeling his gaze, Briar had no choice but to snap back to reality. Her longshes fluttered twice as she asked, “What’s <b>wrong</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>


    At this distance, even their breathing fell into sync. A breezeced with osmanthus fragrance swept by, lifting a stray lock of hair from Briar’s forehead.


    Nothing separated them anymore. Their eyes, their lips, even the air they breathed seemed to mingle on each other’s faces.


    ‘This is way too weird,‘ Briar thought to herself.


    Strangely enough, her heart started to feel inexplicably happy. She blinked, wanting to turn her head away.


    But Ashton moved first.


    He straightened up, took a step to the side, and put on an earnest smile.


    He said, “Nothing. I just thought you might get mad, so I’d be conveniently on hand tofort you.”


    Briar shot a re at the man who was pretending to be all serious. “If you knew I might get mad, then why’d you tell me?”


    It was a totally normaleback, but to Ashton, it sounded like pride and pouting. He found it irresistibly cute.


    He chuckled softly again.


    Brandon even held his breath, desperately trying to fade into the background like an emotionless prop.


    ‘Is Mr. Wade actually flirting right now? Seriously?‘ Brandon screamed in his head.


    As a guy who always kept women at arm’s length, Ashton was pulling out trick after trick. It was enough to make everyone’s jaw drop.


    Brandon felt that this was just next–level.


    Brandon rubbed his ear, feeling conflicted.


    He thought, ‘Should I remind Mr. Wade that Xavion said you’re supposed to confess first and wait for a response before doing all this?


    Otherwise, it would just be sexually harassing.


    “I don’t want to hide anything from you,” Ashton kept up his act. “So, are you mad? I can deal with Frank for you.”


    Briar paused for a moment before finally saying, “No, thanks.”


    Ashton nodded, looking a bit disappointed. “Alright, what a shame.


    “I already had someone hold Frank at the vi I was nning to beat him up when we got home to make you feel better.”


    Briar was at a loss for words.


    The more time Briar spent around Ashton, the more she felt that everything people said about him just didn’t match him at all.


    When they got home, Briar saw Frank being guarded in the yard, serving as a buffet for the mosquitoes.


    <b>1/4 </b>


    <b>Frank </b>spotted Briar getting out of the car with Ashton and let out a hoarse, desperate cry. “Briar, save me…


    Briar, who was about to head to her own house, stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. “Frank, Ashton’s not going to hit you


    Frank looked at Ashton, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Really, Ashton?”


    <b>In </b>the two hours he’d been dragged back, he’d run through every possible scenario.


    He’d even rewritten his will for the 182nd time. So, he was surprised that he wasn’t getting beaten up.


    Ashton’s indulgence toward Briar tonight was totally unprecedented. “If Briar says I won’t hit you, then I won’t.”


    Frank looked at Briar with tears of gratitude. If Ashton hadn’t been standing right there, he probably would’ve rushed over and <b>hugged </b>


    Briar’s leg to show how thankful he was.


    He said, “Briar, you’re the best! From now on, I will buy you snacks every single day.”


    Briar had a serious sweet tooth and loved all kinds of desserts and smoothies.


    Her desk drawer in theb was crammed full of candy and snacks. From time to time, she’d order desserts and smoothies.


    “Alright,” Briar said, her eyes curving with a smile.


    Hearing someone promise to cover her snacks for the next four years of college actually made her pretty happy.


    Even though she wasn’t sure she’d actually finish all four years, the desserts in Shoneport really were way better than anything in Qathana.


    Once their conversation was over, Ashton wasted no time in sending Frank off. “You can go now.”


    Frank was stunned. “Ashton, I haven’t even eaten yet! You dragged me here. Shouldn’t you at least feed me?”


    Ashton narrowed his eyes, ncing at the sticks set aside. “How about some beating? I am good at cooking that up.”


    Frank instantly chickened out, looking all aggrieved. “I’m leaving right now.”


    As he passed by, Briar, still looking down at her phone, suddenly called out, “Frank, tell your people to stop voting for me in the Campus Belle


    Contest.”


    She had just checked. The first round voting window was already closed, which meant the results were set in stone and couldn’t be changed


    anymore.


    Frank nodded with a serious face. “I know. I’ll have them stop tomorrow.”


    But inside, he was secretly delighted. Briar was way ahead in the first round of campus belle votes.


    Even if the next two rounds were just average, with a little behind–the–scenes maneuvering, her chances of winning were still pretty high.


    As for Ashton’s threat, he couldn’t care less.


    Compared to being forcefully shipped with all sorts of random girls and made into some fake couple, he felt that getting beaten up by Ashton was way better.


    Who cares about that! Getting smacked around by Ashton for a bit was way better than being stuck in some awkward ship <i>for </i>a whole year.


    Frank left, hopping into his showy red Lamborghini. Then, he was gone.


    10:50 Fri, 15 Aug


    Aug


    “Ashton, I’m heading back too,” Briar said, turning to leave.


    But someone caught her arm, and when she looked back, she met Ashton’s burning gaze.


    Ashton cleared his throat. “Are you free tomorrow night? I want to take you to a movie.”


    Briar raised an eyebrow. “A movie?”


    Ashton cleared his throat again. “Do you know Stephen Wade? He’s a movie star.”


    Briar had checked out the Wade family before, so she knew Stephen was Ashton’s distant cousin,


    At thirty, he was one of the rare few who made it big without relying on the Wade family’s connections. He’d be Dasmieca’s top actor all


    on his own.


    She nodded. “I’ve heard of him.”


    Ashton took two movie premiere tickets from Brandon. “Tomorrow night, his new movie, ‘The Emperor’s Edict, is premiering


    “He gave me two tickets. Would youe with me?”


    Briar hesitated for a moment, meaning to turn him down, but when she met his hopeful gaze, she just couldn’t refuse. “Alright.”


    Only then did Ashton let Briar go home.


    As he watched Briar head inside and saw the light flick on in her upstairs bedroom, Brandon finally let out a sigh. “Mr. Wade, your flirting skills are way better than Xavion’s.”


    He thought, ‘Mr. Wade’s already pulled off all the date moves, but he still hasn’t actually said the words.‘


    Ashton didn’t even bother responding. He just turned and walked into the house.


    Just then, Morton showed up to report to Ashton. As soon as he got out of the car, he spotted Brandon standing there in the yard looking lost.


    Out of concern, he called out, “Hey, Brandon, what’s up? Did Mr. Wade make you stand out here as punishment?”


    Brandon shot him a look. “Can’t you ever wish something good for me for once?”


    Morton shrugged. “Come on, don’t get mad! You’re always glued to Mr. Wade’s side.


    <i>“</i>Out of the four of us brothers, aren’t you the one who gets punished the most?”


    Brandon snorted and spilled the beans to Morton about how Ashton had been sneaking around, basically going on a date with Briar tonight.


    Morton, <i>no </i>longer in a hurry to head inside, crossed his arms and gave Brandon a friendly reminder.


    He said, “Didn’t Xavion already warn you to stop overthinking this? Can’t you see how much Mr. Wade cares about Miss Jennings?”


    Brandon replied, “He did remind me,”


    Morton shrugged. “Exactly, so just don’t get involved. Just follow Mr. Wade’s lead. He knows what he’s doing.”