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.

Someone finally lost their patience and stepped in. "Asher, why don't you take Grace home?"

Another person chimed in, "Yeah, she's definitely drunk. Just get her home."

There was another who worried I might be upset and asked me bluntly, "Rhea, you won't be mad, right?"

My face fell. I started to answer, but Asher cut in, "Rhea, I'll take her home tonight, then I'll talk to Mr. and Mrs. Turner about calling off the engagement."

When he put it that way, I had no choice but to go along. I nodded obediently and pretended to be happy.

After Asher and Grace left, the others drifted out, too.

I stood to leave, but I'd barely taken two steps when Carl stepped in front of me.

I stared at him, confused. "What do you want?"

Carl let out a lewd snicker. His face was naked with desire. "It's just the two of us. Isn't it obvious?"

I looked around. That was when I realized we were completely alone. I lunged for the door, but he grabbed me from behind and pinned me to the couch.

I didn't panic. I drove my knee into Carl's most vulnerable spot hard enough to make him scream and let go.

I scrambled to my feet, grabbed a bottle from the table, and smashed it into his forehead. It wasn't enough, so I grabbed a stool and beat him across the back until he went down.

He didn't even have time to react.

Suddenly, someone kicked the door open.

Asher burst in, looking frantic. His eyes widened at what he saw. Carl lay on the floor, bleeding and close to death.

I smiled, feeling pleased with myself.

After Asher hauled Carl out, I received a video from the private investigator. In the footage, Asher sat on the couch while Carl knelt at his feet, bruised and bleeding.

Asher's voice stayed flat. "You touched her? Do you have a death wish?"

Carl trembled, saying nothing.

Disappointment and loathing spread across Asher's face. "I'll cripple you now!"

He stepped forward and pummeled Carl.

Unable to stand the pain, Carl roared defiantly, "Mr. Kline, you don't even love her! What's wrong with me laying a hand on her? I was trying to help you get back at her!"

Asher looked murderous, his voice sounding ice-cold. "She's mine. You don't get to touch her. Whatever I do is my business. What the hell does that have to do with you?"

Carl didn't understand the issue. He thought he had been doing Asher a favor. "But, Mr. Kline, you approved this plan. Ms. Turner said you asked for someone to sleep with Rhea. I figured I'd handle it myself instead of bringing in a stranger.

"It would've crushed her parents if they found out. That was supposed to be the payback. Who could've imagined she'd fight back and blow the whole thing up?"

When I heard that, I dug my nails into my palm until it hurt. Only then did my fury loosen its grip a little.

I never would've guessed that Carl trying to sleep with me was part of Asher's revenge plan. It was no wonder he'd made sure Grace left. No wonder Finn couldn't stop staring at me like that.

Asher's eyes went cold. "I never approved it. I didn't agree to it either!"

Carl froze, looking thrown off. "But you left with Ms. Turner. That was basically a green light."

Asher's face contorted with rage. He drove another brutal kick into Carl as he seethed, "Shut up! I never approved or agreed to it!"

Carl lay on the floor, coughing up blood.