I gripped the brow pencil in my hand and forced a smile. "Really? You actually want to marry me?"

Asher paused, his eyes turning dark and impossible to read, before a slow smile formed. "Of course. Make sure your parents come. They shouldn't miss something this big."

I kept the smile fixed, nodded as if I were touched, and hugged him tightly. "Asher, does the feud between our families not matter to you at all?"

His body went stiff. I couldn't see his face, but the hatred rolled off him.

"I love you, so none of that matters."

Asher lowered his head, kissed my forehead, and began to move down.

I turned away and pushed him back. "I'm tired."

He froze, a shadow flickering in his eyes before it cleared. "Alright. Go back to sleep."

With that, he turned and walked into the bathroom.

I watched Asher as he headed for the shower, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. Everyone else kept their proposal plans secret, but he'd told me his right away.

If I hadn't overheard that conversation today, I would've kept waiting, happily and cluelessly, until those videos blindsided me and turned me into the town joke.

He built up my hopes just so that he could crush them. All he wanted was to drag my name through the mud and humiliate Mom and Dad.

It was vicious.

Restless and irritable, I got up and started packing.

Asher came out of the bathroom and saw every gift he'd ever given me piled on the floor. Confused, he asked, "What are you doing?"

I didn't look up. "I don't want them anymore. I'm throwing them out."

I meant to ditch the gifts the same way I was ditching his love.

Asher didn't think much of it. He figured I was just bored with them. "Fine. We'll buy new ones."

I said nothing and kept packing.

…

The next day, I received a strange text.

The message said, "I'm Asher Kline's fiancee. Meet me at noon at Serenity Restaurant. And don't tell him."

The shock drained the color from my face, and my grip tightened around the phone before I realized it. I needed to know who she was.

At noon, I arrived just as scheduled. A waiter led me to a private room in the corner.

I opened the door and spotted her right away. She was stunning, gentle, and demure. She wore a white dress with subtle makeup, and everything about her seemed effortless and graceful.

I took the seat across from her and kept my face neutral.

She looked at me, a flash of cold in her eyes. "I'm Grace Turner, Asher Kline's fiancee."

I arched an eyebrow, keeping my voice even. "So?"

Grace went still, clearly not expecting me to be so composed. Confused, she said, "You're the woman he's been seeing. Aren't you even a little curious about why he's engaged?"

I shrugged, lifted the coffee from the table, took a sip, and said nothing.

Before I came, I had been curious and braced for anger. But the moment I saw her, every question fell away, and my heart went quiet. I felt calm to my core.

I realized then that I had already let Asher go.

I gave my all whenever I loved someone. When it ended, I would walk away without a second thought.

Grace was exasperated when I stayed quiet. "Our families have already arranged the marriage. The wedding is in a month, so do yourself a favor and leave."

She pulled a bank card from her bag and placed it on the table between us. "There's eight million dollars on that card. Consider it enough to take care of you for the rest of your life."

I stared her down. My voice stayed flat. "Does he know you're doing this?"

She gave a smug smile. "Of course. In the end, he's the one who set the wedding date."

I scoffed.

It turned out that Asher had set this up from the beginning. He'd planned to weaponize those videos to get even with me. Then, he'd marry Grace and pretend none of it had happened.

I got to my feet and raised my voice. "Stop contacting me. Whether you marry him is your business, not mine."

My tone turned to pure sarcasm as I continued, "I'm doing fine financially. Your little humiliation game won't work. Quit showing off and acting superior."

With that, I turned to leave.

I had taken only a few steps when Grace hurried forward and blocked my way. "You're not leaving. You still haven't promised to stay away from him for good!"

I frowned, then smirked. "Relax. Asher is a selfish, small-minded, and sneaky man. I'm done with him. That scumbag is all yours."

Grace's face twisted with rage. "How could you say that about him?"

She slapped me so hard that I lost my footing, stumbled back, and crashed into the door. The door handle gashed my forehead. Blood poured down, soaking my collar.

Grace still wasn't finished. She snatched the cup off the table and flung coffee at me. Coffee and blood streamed down my clothes.

Heat roared up my spine. I stood, wiped my face clean, and closed in on her. My expression remained ice-cold.

She flinched and backed up, but she still barked, "Don't you dare trash-talk Asher! He's a perfect man!"

I didn't waste words. I raised my hand and slapped her back.

Grace cried out. Before she could react, I clamped my hand around her throat and pinned her to the wall. I kept slapping her across the face.

After more than ten slaps, I saw blood at the corner of her mouth. I finally calmed down.

Just as I was about to let go, the door burst open.

"Rhea! What are you doing?" Asher bellowed.

He barreled in, shoved me aside, and pulled Grace into his arms, his face tight with concern.

I crashed into a chair. The blow caught my spine and left me doubled over.

He ignored my pain and the mess, then scolded, "You went too far! How could you hit her?"

Grace immediately played the victim. "Honey, it hurts so much. She slapped me. My face is ruined!"

She even broke into loud sobs. "I'm your fiancee. You have to stand up for me."

Asher looked stricken as he stroked her back in concern. "I know. Don't cry."

He raised his head, ready to tear into me, but his words died when he saw my calm expression and the disappointment in my eyes.

He hesitated, then turned back to Grace. "Let's get you to the hospital. I'll deal with her later."

Then, he scooped her up and carried her out.

I snorted as they left.

There it was. Asher's mask was slipping. If he were to put on a show, I'd put one on, too.

In the past, catching him with another woman would've set me off. So if I acted too composed now, he'd get suspicious.

After I got home, I threw a fit, playing the unreasonable woman. I cried my eyes out and smashed things in a rage.

Carl called the family doctor to check my injuries, but I threw the doctor out.

Eventually, I cried until I had nothing left and collapsed on the floor. I kept calling and texting Asher, demanding to know what was going on with him and Grace, as well as where that left me.

He hurried home soon after.

He sent the maids away, hauled me into his arms, and said in a sincere voice, "I'm sorry, babe. Today was different. I had to take her to the hospital first. Please don't be mad."

I shoved him away, sobbing as I demanded, "How did she suddenly become your fiancee? Explain it, or we're done. I'm leaving for good!"

Asher looked relieved to see that I was still as willful as ever. "My father arranged the match, but I'm not going through with it. I'll cancel the engagement—just give me a little time."

I turned away with a snort. "I don't believe you."

His jaw tightened. His voice sounded even more sincere than a moment ago. "It's true. Believe me. You're the only one I love."

I ignored him and threw a tantrum, pounding my fists against his chest. "Liar! You're lying to me again. I don't believe you."

Asher let me hit him. He said whatever he could to calm me, as if he were soothing a child, and he kept asking for my forgiveness.

Although I kept hitting him, he didn't get angry. He just held me and let me vent. I only stopped when I decided the drama had gone on long enough.

After I calmed down, Asher patiently applied medicine and bandaged the cut on my forehead. He knew I had cooled off when he saw how calm I looked.

He even went into the kitchen and cooked for me himself. He made all my favorites, but they didn't taste the way they used to.

Maybe we just weren't us anymore.

It was the middle of the night, and I'd barely fallen asleep when a stomachache yanked me awake. Wave after wave of cramps left me sweating through the sheets.

I kept running to the bathroom. It was clear I'd eaten something bad. The night didn't let up, and by the end, I was wiped out. Eventually, I passed out from the pain.

…

I woke up in the hospital.

Asher rubbed my stomach gently, worry etched across his face. "Are you feeling any better?"

I gave a small nod, already feeling much better.

He squeezed my hand, his eyes still full of worry. "The doctor said you should eat a little after waking up. I'll get you some soup."

I gave another nod.

After he left, a message popped up on my phone. I opened it and found a video from a private investigator. Ever since I learned of Asher's true colors, I had hired someone to keep tabs on him.

The video had been recorded at the hospital.

Asher held Grace in his arms, murmuring to calm her, "Be good. Stop going after her. That won't do you any good."

Grace pouted. "But I'm your fiancee. Are you really going to marry her?"

Asher denied it immediately. "I'm just playing along with her. It's payback."

Then, he lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to her cheek. "Don't worry. Once I'm finished with her, I'll marry you. You're the one who'll become my wife."

A satisfied smile spread across her face, but a trace of unease lingered in her eyes. She asked again, "Asher, do you really have no feelings for her?"

"No. If I fell for her, I'd be sabotaging myself," Asher said without hesitation.

His words reassured Grace.

Still seething from the slap, she sounded wounded as she demanded, "Then prove it. You don't have to touch her. Slip laxatives into her food and make her pay with brutal pain!"

Asher stiffened and hesitated for a long beat before saying, "Okay."

The footage ended abruptly.

My fingers tightened around the phone as I trembled. I couldn't stop shaking with pure rage. It turned out my diarrhea was because Asher had dosed me with laxatives. What a petty, childish way to get even!

Asher had shattered the image I had of him. Grief, despair, and fury crashed over me at once, and my head felt like it might burst.

I was lost in my own thoughts when Asher walked in with the soup. He fed me gently, each motion slow and deliberate. That caring look only made my stomach turn.

If he despised me that much, he might as well have poisoned my food and let me die. At least that would've given him the satisfaction he wanted.

Instead, he dragged it out, tormenting me while pretending to care. Did he actually enjoy having that power over me? Maybe I was just something for him to toy with.

During my hospital stay, Asher fussed over me and treated me like I was fragile. I could walk, but he wouldn't let me, so he carried me to the bathroom. I could eat by myself, but he insisted on feeding me.

Even the nurses called him the perfect boyfriend. But I knew it was an act. He wanted me hooked so that the hurt would cut deeper. Thankfully, I stayed clearheaded and didn't get pulled in.

After I left the hospital, Asher took me to Finn's new restaurant. The private room was crowded with his friends, and their worried looks put me on edge.

I then spotted Grace in the corner, and it clicked. They were afraid I'd start something.

The mood turned awkward. Even so, we ate like normal.

While we were there, Grace downed one drink after another and soon started rambling, even calling out Asher's name. Every time she said it, the looks people gave me grew a little more awkward.

I ignored her, but she kept pushing it. She stood and flung herself into Asher's arms, clinging tightly.

Asher tried to pry her off, but she wouldn't let go. When he snapped at her, she broke down in tears.