I begged, looking into Asher's eyes. I struggled to make him know my meaning.

"I have been working all day. After work, I went to the hospital. My father's condition has not improved. My mother keeps crying. I am so tired. I know you are unhappy, but I don't have the energy today."

Asher shut up with his Adam's apple moving. He didn't find my explanation acceptable.

"But you can't speak to me like this, can you? You haven't been talking to me properly these days."

"Didn't we talk properly in half an hour? I can't understand what Asher's standards are. I am interacting with him depending on his mood."

I reiterated weakly, saying, "My dad has been sick during this period. You know that. Asher, please. Let me sleep for a while before we talk."

My heart was beating fast. I was a little panicked, suspecting that I might die suddenly from overwork in the next second. Weirdly, I had a sense of relief as if I wanted to get rid of something.

"If I die, I won't be so tired, right?"

I lowered my head. Before Asher could say anything, I straddled back to my bedroom and fell into a sound sleep.

However, it was the worst thing I did that day. When Asher was not happy, I acted on my own without getting his consent.

"So, it is my fault that I am awakened by a burst of cell phone ringing in the middle of the night."

Asher wasn't by my side. I didn't have time to think about it. I picked up the cell phone and answered the call.

"What did the staff at the hospital say?"

"What are you talking about?" It was a call from Kellan Shawn, a friend of Asher.

"Sorry, I thought it was my mom." I raised my hands to cover my eyes. Feeling relaxed and somewhat drowsy, I asked, "Is something wrong?"

"How can you ask that?" A female interjected sharply. Jessa Doyle angrily accused me over the call, saying, "Asher said he wanted to jump into a river and killed himself. How come you're still sleeping at home? Are you his wife?"

I was stunned for a moment. Then I hurriedly got up and grabbed my coat before rushing to where they were.

Asher sat by the river. Kellan and Jessa stayed by his side. Seeing me coming, Kellan frowned, and Jessa glared at me fiercely.

I ignored them, lowered my voice, and cautiously tested Asher. I asked, "Asher, it's cold by the river. Shall we not stay here?"

"Fortunately, Asher is emotionally stable, so I should be able to coax him well."

"Don't bother with me anymore. This is just the way I am. Stuck in an awkward place, I aim for the high and am too lazy to lower myself. It's normal for you to be impatient with me." Asher spoke indifferently without looking at me.

The wind by the river gave me a headache, and Asher's words made me disgusted. A thought suddenly came to my mind. I thought it would be better to jump in myself.

I was startled by such a thought. Panicking, I kept telling myself in my mind, "This is not my idea."

"Dad and mom need me. Asher is right in front of me."

I smiled stiffly and said, "No, your songs have always sold well. I assumed there wouldn't be any problems. I have always believed that you are the best."

Asher turned around and looked at me, saying, "But you..."

"I'm sorry, I was a bit impatient today, which was why I spoke harshly. I have reflected on it."

"But should I reflect on it?" Without much thought, I continued to smile, and said, "Can you forgive me?"

I spoke non-stop. Asher finally agreed not to stay here in the middle of the night. He forgave me generously.

"I can only be grateful for this."

Before leaving, Kellan grabbed me with displeasure. He said, "Asher is always more sensitive. Don't argue with him."

"He was willing to spend several months helping you find a discontinued doll for your birthday gift. Can't you treat him better? You have no conscience."

After Jessa said so, Kellan glared at her, but he did not refute.

"They always do this. Whenever Asher is unhappy, they will say that it is because I treat him badly. They will never be willing to believe that we don't even argue most of the time. No one cares about my emotions."

But I was so tired. I nodded silently. I wanted to get back to fall asleep as soon as possible. After all, it was not long until dawn.

"What I don't understand is why I was forgiven, only to be pushed to the edge."

As soon as I entered the house, Asher came up to me with beaming joy in his eyes.

"You're back? I made your favorite dish. Come and try it."

I was a little surprised. Asher was rarely happy like he was now. Then I realized that Asher was usually happy because of the songs he had written.

"Someone booked my song. This time, it's by a big star, it's going to be a theme song." Asher shared his joy with me incessantly. Then he looked at me, saying, "Why do you seem unhappy? You shouldn't impose negative emotions onto your partner."

In the end, he had a hint of warning in his words.

"What should I say? Should I tell him that I was informed to be mentally prepared? After all, my dad may not live much longer. Will Asher relate to and sympathize with me?"

"I don't want to take the risk. I don't want to be woken up and blamed in the middle of the night again."

So, I forced a smile like a puppet.

"I will pay attention to it. I won't do so again next time."

"Perfect. Go wash your hands. The food won't taste good if it gets cold later." Asher finally let me go, looking satisfied.

At the dining table, I dared not miss any of his words for fear of missing out on every emotion he expressed.

Luckily, I didn't make any mistakes today.

I watched as Asher had been smiling. Then I cautiously brought up the topic.

"I took a few days off."

Asher's eyes lit up. He asked, "So you mean you can stay at home all the time?"

I struggled to speak. But my words were getting stuck in my throat. I said, "Dad is not doing well. I plan to stay with Mom for a while. I must go to the hospital. So, I won't be coming back here for now."

Seeing him silent, I was frightened and nervous.

"Mom is not in a good state. She has been crying. I am a bit worried."

"What about me?" Asher no longer looked happy. He felt a little lonely.

"What's wrong with him? Is he sick or dying?"

I was confused again.