CHAPTER 6

Charlotte was taken aback by Jacob’s sudden outburst and her face contorted into a frown. 

“Jacob, what has gotten into you?” She demanded as she tugged at his arm. “Why do you care so much about Jasmine being with your uncle?”

Her words flew over Jacob’s head as he yanked his arm free from her grip. And all he saw was red as he stormed towards Asher and Jasmine. 

“This relationship will not happen!” He spat and attempted to reach for Jasmine, but Asher swiftly stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Jasmine to shield her.

His brow arched as he stared down at Jacob’s seething figure. “And who are you to declare that? You’ve already chosen your partner. Go back to her and stop making a fuss.”

Jacob’s fists tightened as his gaze alternated between Asher and Jasmine before settling on Jasmine in a venomous glare. “You’ll pay for this,” he sneered. “You’ll pay for humiliating me like this.”

“Humiliating you?” Jasmine scoffed as she stepped away from behind Asher, finally mustering the confidence to speak up for herself. 

“If anyone was humiliated here it’s me. I can’t believe I ever fell for you. You’re so full of yourself.”

The last shred of restraint in Jacob snapped and he tried to forcefully grab Jasmine, but Asher shoved him back with just one hand.

“This is your last warning, Jacob. Don’t test me,” Asher warned, his voice calm, yet laced with an unmistakable edge.

Gasps echoed through the room as Jacob crashed to the floor from the impact of Asher’s shove. Jacob was disoriented for a second, then his anger resurfaced again and he shot up to his feet.

“You—” He began, about to pick a fight with Asher, but a harsh slap to his face made him freeze.

“Enough of this now, Jacob!” Ophelia’s voice rang out as she appeared in his line of view, her expression livid. “Have some respect for your uncle!”

Her gaze then shifted to Richard. “Control your son, Richard!” She fired, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Asher, who had gotten fed up with the whole drama, decided it was time to leave. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself from beating Jacob up if he stayed any longer.

He straightened the lapel of his jacket as he turned to Ophelia. “I’ll be taking my leave now, mother.”

“But why?” her wrinkled forehead creased further as her attention shifted to him. “The party hasn’t even started.

“I’ll see you some other time,” he replied in a clipped tone. “The hostility in this place is suffocating,” 

Without another word, he grabbed Jasmine’s hand, and before she had a chance to object, he pulled her along as he strode out of the hall.

Jasmine’s steps were uneven as she struggled to keep up with Asher’s long strides. The moment they reached his sleek Maybach, she wrenched her hand out of his.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Jasmine snapped as she looked at him with anger brewing in her eyes. “Why did you drag me away like that? Do you think you own me or something?”

Asher’s brow cocked as he turned to face her. 

“Is that the thank you I get for defending you back there?” His voice came out sharper than he intended. 

“Would you have preferred staying behind and letting that stupid nephew of mine humiliate you further?

Jasmine paused, her anger slowly getting replaced with rationality as she realized that Asher was right. She had been too blindsided to see that he had actually protected her.

Her features softened and her shoulders slumped as she fidgeted with her fingers. “I’m sorry for lashing out like that. It’s just..” she sighed, averting her gaze. 

“I feel like such a pushover for letting people walk all over me all the time. That’s why I got defensive when you dragged me away like that. Thank you for helping me.”

Asher’s expression flashed with guilt for being too hard on her. “It’s fine,” his voice softened. “I guess I shouldn’t have dragged you out so suddenly. It’s just an…instinctive habit of mine.”

 

Jasmine nodded slowly, then tilted her head as she glanced up at him, the curiosity gnawing at the back of her head seeping through. 

“Why did you save me, though?” she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper. “Is it because you felt obligated…after last night?”

Asher’s brows furrowed as he sensed the insecurity in her voice. 

“That’s not why I did it,” he clarified, then his hands subconsciously tightened into fists. “I just couldn’t stand to see you get treated like that.”

Jasmine kept silent and her fiddling increased as she was unsure of how to respond to the sincerity in his voice.

“Marry me,” he said suddenly.

Jasmine froze momentarily before her head snapped up in a wide-eyed stare. “W-What?”

Asher’s unwavering gaze bore into her. “Marry me, and I’ll help you get revenge on everyone who has hurt you.”

Jasmine blinked repeatedly as Asher’s words sank in. “Marry you?” She repeated slowly. “I thought you only suggested that to defend me earlier. Did you actually mean it?”

“At first no,” Asher admitted. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t such a bad idea.” 

He opened the car door for her, and gestured inside. “Come with me and I’ll explain better.”

Jasmine hesitated for a bit before giving in and getting into his car. 

The car ride was filled with a not so uncomfortable silence, but there was an unspoken tension that lingered in the air. 

Jasmine fidgeted with the hem of her dress as her mind raced, and she occasionally stole glances at Asher, whose eyes remained focused on the road.

Soon, Asher pulled over in the driveway of a familiar hotel that brought warmth to Jasmine’s cheeks.

“W-why are we here?” She stammered, the nervousness in her voice unmissable.

Asher chuckled knowingly at her unease, and for a moment he thought of teasing her, but he brushed it off. 

He didn’t want to get that comfortable…yet.

“Don’t worry, it’s not what you think?” He reassured. “This is just my temporary residence while my penthouse is being renovated.”

Jasmine’s racing heart calmed slightly and she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. 

They got out of the car, and Asher led her to his hotel room. As Jasmine got inside, memories from last night came flooding back.

She remembered how intense and passionate Asher had been, a complete contrast to the stoic faced man she currently saw. 

She spared him a look and caught him staring at the bed with a distant look in his eyes.

It seemed he was remembering too.

Asher broke the moment after a few seconds by clearing his throat and shifting his focus to her.

 “Have a seat,” he gestured to the velvet sofas across from them and moved to take his seat on one.

Jasmine obeyed as she stiffly sat down on the other one opposite him. 

He leaned back in his chair and his finger traced the seam of his lips as he studied her through hooded eyes for a moment.

“So, regarding what I said earlier,” he finally stopped staring and reiterated.

 “Marrying me will benefit us both. I’ll help you make them regret mistreating you. In return, you’ll be my wife for one year.”

Jasmine sucked in a sharp breath as her fingers unintentionally gripped the edge of the sofa. “One year?”

“One year,” Asher confirmed. “No strings attached. Just a marriage of convenience. What do you say?”