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.

Asher ordered, "Cut off the hand Carl put on Rhea, then throw him out! I never want to see him again."

A bodyguard nodded and dragged Carl away.

Carl freaked out and pleaded, "Mr. Kline, I messed up! Please, I've been loyal for years. Let it slide just this once!"

Asher stayed put on the couch, brooding with his expression overcast.

I closed the video, feeling nothing, and sat motionless on the bed.

Not long after, the door opened and Asher stepped inside. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder.

"Babe, I'm so sorry. It was my negligence that allowed Carl to hurt you."

He sounded furious as he continued, "The second I found out he'd tried to hurt you, I wanted him dead! Don't worry. I've already punished him."

Asher took my hand and squeezed it tight. "Still, I'm glad you could protect yourself and fight him off."

He raised a hand and gently brushed my cheek. "With me, you're a sweet little kitten. With everyone else, you're a little lioness with her claws out."

I scoffed inwardly. He probably thought I'd be scared and helpless in a moment like that, crying or just sitting there waiting to be saved.

But I knew better. It was wiser to count on myself. Men, in the end, weren't reliable.

When I felt Asher start to nibble at my neck, I quietly turned my head aside and yawned. "I'm really tired. I need to rest."

He caught on immediately and pulled back, just wrapping his arms around me instead. "Alright. Go to sleep. I'll stay with you tonight."

I didn't refuse. I lay down without a word. He lay beside me, but even with his warm arms around me, I only felt cold.

We shared the same bed, but our minds were far apart.

After what happened, Asher stopped going to work and stayed home with me. He started showering me with gifts, went shopping with me, and even cooked for me.

He was perfect in every way, but I felt nothing because I knew it was just a performance to lower my guard. He could tell I wasn't happy, so he tried even harder to please me.

Eventually, I got tired of pretending. I dropped the act and became much calmer and quieter. I barely smiled anymore, and my eyes became dull whenever I looked at him.

Asher seemed oblivious and kept doing what he thought were touching gestures.

As the birthday party approached, he grew more on edge. When he realized I hadn't invited Mom and Dad, he pressed, "Babe, your parents need to be at your birthday party."

I nodded and lied, "I've already invited them."

Only then did he relax and throw himself into planning my birthday, fussing over every detail for my sake.

…

The day before the birthday party, I drank with Asher on purpose until he was drunk. He pulled me in, kissing me ceaselessly, hungry to take it further.

I pushed hard to get him off me, but he was wild and overpowering. I couldn't fight him off. With no way out, I went along with it.

Luckily, the drug kicked in right before it could go any further, and he passed out.

I'd drugged him.

I pulled out Asher's phone and started scrolling through his messages. The group chat with his friends was blowing up with notifications.

"Asher, what time are you dropping those videos of you two in bed tomorrow?"

"Send it here first. We want to see if her body is as hot as you claimed."

"Yeah, give us a preview."

My gaze grew cold, and my fingers trembled as I replied, "There will be a show tomorrow. Stay tuned!"

Then, I went looking for those videos.

Fortunately, Asher had told me where he'd saved them, so I found them within seconds. I deleted every video and wiped the system clean. Only then did I breathe easy.

When I was done, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out without looking back. The moment I stepped through the door, Asher and I were done for good.

I boarded the plane and left the town.

I watched the blue and white of the sky outside the window and took a deep breath, feeling lighter than I ever had before.