Asher's POVThe moment Ivy's hand shot up in a wave, my stomach twisted. I followed her gaze, and there he was - Dexter. The man who had appeared in her stories countless times, the one draped all over her during that damn vacation.My jaw tightened, fists clenching as she raised her glass to me with a smug smile and sashayed away. It took every ounce of restraint not to lose it right there.She’d brought him here, fully aware of what it would do to me. I wasn’t sure what angered me more - her audacity or his willingness to show up.The sea of cameras and curious onlookers forced me to keep my composure. This wasn’t just about me; if a scandal broke, Ivy would suffer too. Despite everything, I didn’t want that for her.Yet, the thought of her entertaining another man set my blood boiling. I hated how powerless I felt— torn between fury and guilt.I knew what I’d done to her. I had no right to demand loyalty when I hadn’t proven my innocence. But those damning pictures with Taylor were
Asher’s POVI kept my hand wrapped around the glass, red wine bubbling inside. My fingers were cold against the slick surface.My eyes darted across the room; there was a sea of guests chatting loudly, but my gaze found just one person. Another drink slid down my throat, sharp and burning.I had lost count of how many drinks I had; it should have helped dull my senses, but it didn’t. It didn’t dull the irritation simmering inside me.Derrick.The dumbass photographer. The smug, audacious prick. Oh, the nerve of him! It was already bad enough that he was hanging around Ivy throughout her trip. It was maddening that he touched her, even in the slightest.Just thinking about it made me seethe. But he also had the audacity to follow her here and attend my event! Who gave him an invitation in the first place? Ivy? I loved her so much, but damn, she was making my blood boil.I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching tightly as I downed the contents of my glass. Grabbing a fresh glass of wine f
Asher’s POVI hated the way her face fell in disappointment when she saw me. I hated the frown on her face that caused her forehead to crease.I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and kiss the frown away.“Flower, I—”“My name is Ivy,” she cut in, her voice stern. “And I’m asking, what is this about?”I sighed, closing the distance between us. “If I hadn’t told the lie that Janine was calling for you, would you have come?”“You very well know I wouldn’t!” she spat in disgust and made to storm off, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me. “Don’t walk away from me,” I said through clenched teeth.Shock flashed across her face; she hadn’t expected me to react this way. But it was done—I was done playing the cool guy.She tried to wriggle free from my grasp, but I held firm. “Let go of me or—”“Or what?” I cut in.“What?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.I pulled her closer, pressing her against me. “If I don’t let go of you, what will happen?” I challenged her. “Seriously, t
Asher’s POVJanine’s face looked like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She was in a crouching position, her hands unbuttoning the pants on...He turned to look at me with apologetic eyes. “Luca!”“Asher, I’m sorry...” he began.“Janine, will you get on your feet and fix your clothes!” I yelled in anger. I was filled with utter disgust, seeing my sister in that position and, of all people, with my own friend Luca.She sighed and proceeded to fix Luca’s pants.I raked my fingers through my hair. “His hands are working, Janine! I think he can fix his pants by himself.” I turned to look at Luca, my eyes narrowing at him. “Or can you not?” I barked. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my fists were clenched by my sides.Janine opened her mouth to protest, but he hushed her. “It’s okay, baby. Let it go...”Baby? I saw red in that instant, the muscles in my jaw tightening. Now, I was raving mad. “What the heck is going on here?” I barked.Janine’s eyes widened, her fac
MaxThe smell of fresh coffee hit me as I pushed open the door to the little café.Ivy was perched on a stool by the window, her shoulders hunched, eyes focused on her phone, scrolling, engrossed in whatever it was she was staring at.She didn’t see me walk in - at least, not at first. Well, she wasn’t supposed to. I had actually stalked her and followed her here.I crossed the room; there were only a few people in the café. The café was located on the top floor of a high-rise building, exclusive to top celebrities.I slipped into the chair across from her. She finally looked up, her gaze turning sharp, annoyed.“Ivy,” I said her name like it was the sweetest thing ever. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”She sighed, setting her phone down deliberately. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right?” Her tone was flat, detached. “What a surprise!” she exclaimed sarcastically, picking up a book on the table and flipping the pages open.I knew where she was going with this, but I wouldn’t give her th
Taylor.I was sitting on the large couch in my bedroom, staring off into the distance. It was supposed to be my time of solitude, a time to sit with my thoughts, and it would have been if Max hadn’t been hunched over and pacing from one corner to the other.His frame was rigid, clenching his fists at his sides, thumping his foot against the floor. It was clear he wanted my attention.He hadn’t said anything yet, but that’s what he wanted, and I couldn’t be bothered. I was plagued by my own thoughts.I stretched out my legs and laid down, blocking out Max completely. I brought my fingers to my mouth and began to bite down on my nails.I had played my cards quite early, much earlier than I had planned to. Ivy had forced my hand when we got into that big fight, and she said all those horrible things to me.I didn’t see it coming; I didn’t expect her to react in that manner. I was so mad, I couldn’t think clearly. The moment I got off the phone with Max, I sent the pictures to her with a
Asher’s POVThe loud beat of the music in the club matched the pounding in my chest as I leaned in closer to Kat. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she shook her head at me.“This is a bad idea, Asher. A terrible idea,” she said, her voice sharp, piercing through the thrum of music and loud conversations around us.I folded my arms over my chest, trying to ignore the guilt gnawing at me from the inside. “You don’t get it, Kat. This can work. It has to work.”She gave me a look that could shoot daggers. “No, Asher, it doesn’t have to work. It won’t work. You’re playing with fire. Ivy doesn’t trust you anymore, and pulling some jealousy stunt isn’t going to fix that. If anything, it’ll just make things worse.”I shook my head, trying to drown out her words. Kat didn’t understand. She didn’t know Ivy the way I did. Ivy was too proud to admit it, but she was doing the exact same thing with that stupid photographer, Dexter.She wanted me to react, to fight for her. That’s why she was pa
Ivy’s POVThe scent of vanilla and fresh berries mingled in the air as I reached for the sugar jar, sprinkling a little into the bowl. I was about to taste the cream when I felt a faint shift in the atmosphere behind me.I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. I bowed my head, keeping my focus on the task at hand. I had done a good job of avoiding running into him until now. It was easy enough, especially with our mismatched schedules and living in this enormous mansion.“Asher,” I said without looking, my voice calm but distant. “What are you doing here?”I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. This was his house. I had no right to ask him that.There was a pause, just long enough to make me glance over my shoulder. He stood there, hands in his pockets, his dark hair slightly disheveled, as though he’d been running his fingers through it.His chocolate brown eyes were locked on me, looking me over like I was dessert.I quickly averted my gaze. I couldn’t afford
Asher’s POVThe house was quiet.For the first time in weeks, there were no urgent phone calls, no reporters swarming outside, no meetings looming over my head. The chaos had finally settled, leaving behind a strange stillness that I wasn’t sure how to process.I stood in the dimly lit kitchen, staring at the untouched glass of whiskey on the counter. I had poured it out of habit, but I didn’t want it. I wasn’t sure what I wanted.Footsteps echoed softly from the hallway, and I turned just as Ivy stepped into the kitchen. She wore one of my sweatshirts, the sleeves swallowing her hands as she rubbed her arms. Her dark hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, strands falling around her face.“You’re still up,” she said, her voice quiet.I nodded. “Couldn’t sleep.”She hesitated, then leaned against the counter across from me. “Me neither.”For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy. So much had happened. Too much. And now that everyth
Janine’s POVThe sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time I left the office. My shoulders ached from sitting at my desk all day, staring at numbers that refused to make sense. The vineyard was quiet, the workers gone, but the weight of responsibility hadn’t left with them. It followed me everywhere, sinking into my bones.I barely noticed Luca waiting outside until he spoke.“Come with me.”I blinked, startled. He leaned casually against his car, hands in his pockets, watching me with that unreadable expression he wore when he was up to something.I exhaled, rubbing my temples. “Luca, I have so much to”He shook his head. “Not tonight.”I frowned. “What do you mean, not tonight?”He straightened, stepping closer. “I mean you’re taking a break.”I huffed a laugh, exhausted. “I don’t have time for a break.”“You don’t have time not to,” he countered. “You’ve been running yourself into the ground, Janine. I see it. Everyone sees it.”I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing ca
Asher’s POV The chair beneath me is stiff, and the air in the office feels heavier than before. It’s been a week since Marcus’s funeral, but his absence still echoes through every inch of this place. I should be used to this by now. I should have settled into my role, into this office, into the life that was never meant to be mine. But I haven’t.I press my fingers to my temples, willing the headache away. The day has been nothing but meetings, numbers, and decisions I don’t feel qualified to make. Every time someone calls me Mr. Sterling, I feel like they’re talking to a ghost.The knock on the door is soft, but it cuts through the silence like a blade.“Asher?” Ivy’s voice is warm, a tether pulling me back before I get lost in my thoughts again.I exhale, forcing myself to sit up straighter. “Come in.”She steps inside, the scent of her perfume a familiar comfort. She doesn’t look at the paperwork on my desk or the unread messages on my screen. She looks at me, really looks at me,
Asher’s POV The cameras flashed like lightning, the constant clicks filling the air as journalists jostled for position. A long table stretched before us, microphones lined up, waiting to catch every word. Janine and I sat in the center, facing the crowd, our names and titles displayed on small plaques in front of us.Sterling Industries was no longer Marcus’s. It was mine now.I adjusted my suit jacket, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table. The murmurs in the room died down as the moderator stepped up to the podium, tapping the mic to test the sound.“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming,” he began. “Today, we address the transition of leadership at Sterling Industries following the tragic loss of Marcus Sterling. His younger brother, Asher Sterling, will now take over as CEO, while Janine Sterling will assume leadership at Sterling Winery.”I felt Janine stiffen beside me. I didn’t look at her, but I knew what she was thinking—this wasn’t supposed to be her role
Janine’s POVI ran my fingers over the fabric of my blazer, adjusting the sleeves as I stood at the edge of the vineyard. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves. It should have been comforting. This was Marcus’s place, the heart of everything he had built. But instead of feeling connected to him, I felt like an outsider trespassing on something sacred.I took a slow breath and stepped forward, my heels sinking slightly into the soil. I had walked these rows a hundred times before, but never like this. Never as the person responsible for keeping it all together. Marcus had made it look easy, but now that it was my turn, I felt like I was holding something too fragile, something that could shatter in my hands if I wasn’t careful.As I made my way deeper into the vineyard, I spotted a few of the workers tending to the vines. They moved with practiced ease, their hands working through the leaves, trimming, inspecting, ensuring everything was as it sh
Janine's POV I stood in front of my closet, staring at the rows of clothes that suddenly felt meaningless.What did someone wear to bury a brother?My fingers trailed over the fabrics, stopping at a simple black dress. It wasn’t fancy, wasn’t dramatic, just… appropriate. Marcus would have liked that. He always appreciated simplicity, things that were neat and put together.I pulled it off the hanger, holding it against myself in the mirror.It was ridiculous, but part of me wanted to hear his voice one more time, some teasing comment about how I was overthinking this, how I should just wear whatever made me feel comfortable. He never cared about appearances as much as people assumed he did.I squeezed my eyes shut.Marcus.My perfect, impossible, frustrating brother.My mind drifted back, grasping at the memories that felt both too close and impossibly far away.I remembered the time I got into my first real argument with Asher. I was furious, pacing in my room, ranting about how in
Asher’s POV I stared at the suit laid out on the bed.Black. Crisp. Perfectly pressed.Marcus would’ve approved. He was always the one who looked flawless, the one who knew exactly what to wear, what to say, how to carry himself. I was the mess, the one who never quite fit into the image of a Sterling.And yet, here I was.I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the fabric between my fingers. The funeral was in a few hours. People were already gathering. I needed to get dressed.But I couldn’t move.It felt wrong. Putting this suit on, walking into that ceremony, standing in front of a coffin that held my brother’s body.I should have been the one in there.I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. Ivy would be here soon. She wouldn’t let me sit here and spiral.With a deep breath, I forced myself up, moving on autopilot as I changed. The tie was the hardest part. My fingers fumbled with it, frustration boiling over as I tried to get the knot right.“Dammit,” I muttered under my bre
Asher’s POVThe news was everywhere.Every time I turned on the TV, there it was. Every time I scrolled through my phone, there was another headline. It wasn’t just about Marcus anymore. It was about Sterling Industries, about the board, about the future of the company.“Sterling Industries Faces Uncertain Future After CEO’s Tragic Death.”“Who Will Inherit Marcus Sterling’s Empire?”“With Marcus Gone, Can Asher Sterling Step Up?”I wanted to smash the screen every time I saw my name in those headlines. As if I wasn’t already drowning in grief, they wanted to throw expectations on my shoulders, shove a legacy into my hands like I was supposed to carry it without stumbling.I wasn’t Marcus. I never would be.The funeral preparations were already in motion, but none of it felt real. The calls, the arrangements, the condolences, they blurred together in a haze of exhaustion and pain. The house was filled with people coming and going, making decisions about flowers and speeches and seatin
Ivy’s POVThe steam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself. The bathroom mirror was fogged over, the edges beginning to clear just enough to reflect a blurred version of me. I reached out, dragging my fingers across the glass, watching as my reflection sharpened. My hair dripped down my back, water trailing over my bare shoulders, but I didn’t move to dry it.I just stood there, staring at myself.My eyes looked hollow, the dark circles beneath them more pronounced than usual. I looked tired. I felt tired.My chest ached with the weight of everything, pressing down on me like something physical, something heavy. Marcus was gone. Asher was slipping away. And I didn’t know how to stop any of it.I turned away from the mirror, walking slowly back into the bedroom. The sheets on the bed were untouched, the pillows still fluffed, undisturbed. I had barely slept the past few nights, and it wasn’t just because of Marcus. It was Asher.He hadn’t