Chapter 39

Arabella's POV

At the very sight of Asher, I broke into a run. My feet pounded the ground, my heart racing not just from the sprint but from the emotions, I barely could hide my excitement. The moment I reached him, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. My chest tightened as I felt him stiffen and shift slightly, his face twisted slightly in paint. It was as if any time his body came in contact with mine, he experienced pain. “ Oh shit, his bruises' 'I muttered to myself.

My eyes welled up with tears, and I fought to keep my voice steady. "I'm so sorry, Asher," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. I removed my hands from his.

He gave a small, strained smile, trying to hide the pain. "There is no need to be. Can we have breakfast already." He said

The fact he was pretending to be okay, broke me. I could see how stressed he looked, the pain from his bruises, and the way he was forcing himself to pretend he was okay.

His lips brus