“Naughty girl,” Asher grumbled, strapping Isabella into the SUV. She had insisted on taking the passenger seat despite his assertion.“Isn't that why you like me?” Isabella retorted. Asher stilled. It was like someone had drenched him with extremely cold water. Isabella felt his demeanor change and realized her mistake quickly. But it was too late. Asher had already taken the offense to heart and brought his guard up. “I am sorry, that came out wrong.” She apologized earnestly. Asher didn't acknowledge it. After he sat behind the wheel, he didn't spare her even a glance, which hurt Isabella deeply. She understood his reason for feeling dejected. He had been trying to convey his feelings for her, begging her to believe his intentions, and just with a few words she shit on his efforts. She attempted to talk to him but kept getting ignored, so she decided to give him time. She hadn't even paid attention to the road to know that they were heading towards the shopping mall. Once Asher pul
Back in the SUV, Isabella turned to Asher. “I apologise for what I said, I didn't mean for it to come out like that.” “Is that what you really think of me?” Asher asked, merely curious. “That I am with you just for sex?” Isabella's statement earlier had made him feel shitty. And though he was keeping a huge ass secret from her, he didn't appreciate being compared to hit-and-run fellas. With all honesty, he was running out of ideas on what to do or even behave to make her realize he was serious about her. “Can you firmly say that you like me of my exceptional character?'' Isabella shot back instead. Asher blinked. No one in their right mind would like a slut with an addiction problem. Yet, he was. Crazy about a woman, and he didn't even know why. “No,” he said quietly, choosing honestly. Isabella smiled bitterly. She appreciated his sincerity, but it didn't mean his answer didn't hurt her. “Then which reason do you have for liking me?” Her exasperated tone made Asher nervous. He wa
There was something about Isabella begging which made Asher's blood boil. He let out a strangled whimper, shutting his eyes. His cock, however, had other ideas. It slipped between Isabella's butt cheeks, making both hisses with uncorrupted desire. Were he a hormonal-driven male, Asher would have pushed his length deep into her ass, and he had a feeling she was too horny to even attempt to stop him. With much effort, Asher pushed both of them into the swimming pool, catching Isabella unaware. His sole hope was that the cold water would somehow dampen their excitement. Isabella screeched as goose bumps formed on her flawless skin. She turned to Asher with a scowl. “Why did you do that?” Asher gazed at her pursed lips, and before he could stop himself, he leaned and ran his tongue over them lightly. “I promised, didn't I?” he asked simply. “But I begged,” Isabella countered, reaching out to grab him by the neck and automatically wrapped her legs around his waist. The cold water had do
Asher regretted his decision almost two hours later when he drove back home and let Isabella see the disturbing file. At first, she was calm and collected perusing through, until, of course, she got to the picture part. With shaky hands, she lifted the first one and stared at it intently. One would have thought that she was trying to figure something out, but her eyes were good to the lifeless face lying on the floor. That face that had haunted her every waking moment for as long as she could remember. That face that she missed so much. And the same face that she had hated at a point for causing her unbearable pain. “I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was.” It was a silently broken whimper, but Asher heard it clearly and his heart clenched. He wanted a much to comfort her, but he knew she needed a moment to deal with her grief all over again. “I should have given her a benefit of the doubt.” Isabella moaned, sobbing uncontrollably now. “I knew she loved me, and now that I think
Nothing went as planned. Asher received an unexpected visitor, so he had to leave the premises to deal with him. It was no surprise to the bodyguard that his father suddenly showed up. Though he was calm and collected, which is so unlike Mr. Silas Marlowe, Asher knew his old man was just trying not to blow their cover. Isabella, who of course was clueless, insisted Asher should spend the time with his father and that they could plan another day to steal the will.“What are you doing here, dad?” Asher finally asked entering his childhood home. He didn’t risk talking to his old man in public, for he knew the matter at hand. Why else would his father drive half an hour to see him? And by what seemed like a silent mutual agreement, both were silent during the drive home. Perhaps because each had a lot to say.“I should be asking you that!” Silas bellowed, discarding his jacket. “Seems to me, you have forgotten why you infiltrated Garcia's mansion.” He spat bitterly. Before Asher could spe
For some reason, Asher found it difficult to face Isabella the next day. Perhaps it was the guilt of having to lie to her every single day that was finally catching up to him. Though he knew deep in his heart that he could never bring himself to hurt her, there was still that, ‘What if?’ Asher knew his father; Silas Marlowe would stop at nothing to hurt the Garcias. His main worry was Isabella finding out the reason he had come to work at the mansion, to begin with. He contemplated telling her the truth. A couple of times. But he couldn’t see a future where she would ever trust him again if he does. “You are not okay,’’ Isabella observed. “And if you tell me it's nothing one more time, I will be very angry.” Asher groaned rubbing his face in despair. They were in the cabin and apparently, he wasn’t so good at masking his turmoil as he had assumed. “I promise it's nothing to be worried about. Just some family drama.” He shrugged nonchalantly hoping she would drop the topic but obviou
In the following days, unknown to Asher and Isabella, numerous private detectives were training their every move and reporting back to Lucas who couldn't help but feel something was off with Asher, though nothing incriminating had been found to prove his theory. The guy was clean. Too clean. And someone like that always has something to hide in his opinion. So, when he decided to call the bodyguard in his office one early morning to confront him, he was surprised at how well answered Asher's questions were. He was convinced the man had rehearsed them a couple of times, for he didn't slip nor contradict himself in any way. “What is it that you want from my daughter?” Lucas couldn't handle what he felt was hypocrisy from the bodyguard. And just like Silas Marlowe had confronted Asher with pictures days earlier, Lucas did the same. “Do you have no professionalism at all?” The older man growled. If he had nothing criminal to pin the bodyguard down with, Lucas was determined to criticize h
Isabella observed her boyfriend closely, and she knew he had something weighing on him, despite his numerous attempts of claiming he is fine. Just a few hours ago, they managed to take pictures of the infamous will and true to Marcia's word, Isabella was indeed the sole owner of her dead mother's wealth. Something Lucas kept from her. Under different circumstances, Asher would be just as happy as Isabella, but how could he be? Ever since Lucas confronted him in his office two days ago, the bodyguard's mind has been in a state of turmoil. What if Lucas knew they were onto him and put up a show to convince him that he isn't the bad guy? But Asher can almost swear that Lucas wasn't acting. As a bodyguard, Asher long learned how to read subtle clues. And there was nothing to prove Lucas wasn't sincerely worried about his daughter. “Goddammit!” Isabella exclaimed, throwing her soiled napkin down and turned fully to face Asher. “What's going on?” Just as Asher opened his mouth to say 'noth
FOUR YEARS LATER…Isabella couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight that met her eyes once she entered her daughter’s bedroom. The older was sprawled on the floor obediently while his granddaughter painted his entire face with all sorts of stickers, not to mention the colorful rubber bands holding his cropped hair messily. “Look Mummy!” The little girl shouted excitedly. “I am making gramps pretty.”“I can see that pumpkin.” Isabella chuckled. “Dont laugh.” The older man grumbled. But he too couldnt hide his happiness. “You are getting soft, oldman.” Isabella taunted. “Only for her.” The older man retorted. “For her i would go to the depths of hell and combat Lucifer if need be.” Isabella smiled wider. She knew those words to be true. Her daughter, Davina was immensely loved and protected. She will never know suffering like her mother did. The train of thought had Isabella flashabcking a few years ago when she had surmised that happiness was never in the cards for her. Boy had she b
Surprisingly to say, the older folks date was going well. Partially because they both went on gushing about their kids in turn and didnt shy away from mentioning their dead loves once or twice. That was ofcourse until Dragana dropped the bombshell. “What are we to each other Lucas?” She asked quietly. It was no secret that she was greatly enourmered by the man sitting directly opposite of her in the small vintage diner. But she wasnt the kind to drag things along. And blurry lines werent her favourite geometry. Lucas gulped. He quickly raised his champagne glass and in one long sip he emptied it before facing her. “It has been a while since i felt this nervous talking to a woman.” He admitted making Dragana smile. “Tell me about it.” She scoffed. “I got my daughter’s blessing.” Lucas said looking at Dragana in the eye.“My son gave his too”“Really?” Lucas beamed. Dragana nodded. “Does that mean we can make it official?”“Make what official?” Dragana asked making Lucas frown.“Our
"Please don't hurt her." Asher found himself begging. "You don't have to pretend to care for this wench son, " Silas responded smoothly. "I already confessed our plan to her. "Not to worry, she won't leave to tell a soul. You can go back to finish the rest like we agreed on." Isabella didn't even feel when the tears started. She was too hurt to feel anything, let alone liquid flowing down her cheeks. Asher wanted to fight. But he couldn't. For the fear that his old man might hurt his Isabella. So he decide to play along. Knowing very well that Isabella will never look at him the same way again. But at this point, there was no other option. He would rather have her alive and well hating him, because the alternative was unthinkable."And how will I explain that she slipped out of my watch?" He asked in a bored tone throwing Silas off the track momentarily. Isabella froze. Up until then, a small part of her heart hoped that everything was some twisted joke to test her trust in Asher. But
Asher couldn't contain his haywire horrific thoughts as he drove towards his childhood home breaking every speeding limit known to man. He knew his old man too well to know he wasn't bluffing about hurting Isabella. After all, he had been preparing all his life for that exact moment. Asher hadn't dared tell anyone of the call afraid that he would get the blame he so deserved for putting Isabella once again in harms way. He surprised himself when he began chatting to the deity to keep Isabella safe where his own strength would fail. By the time he got there, Silas had more than managed to convince Isabella that she was nothing more than a vengeance tool for Asher. "I am here, now you can let her go." He screamed at his old man kicking the basement door open. Isabella didn't even lift her eyes to look at him. She felt so betrayed and used and damn a fool for never questioning her knight in a black suit, earpiece and gun who practically appeared in her life when she desperately needed s
Silas Marlowe was in a foul mood. Scratch that; he was livid. Seeing red literally. His 'heroic' son had proved that when you want something done, you should do it yourself. That's why Marlowe was preparing to go after the Garcia's himself now. And if his ungrateful son attempts to get in the middle, Marlowe would serve him a similar fate to that of his enemies. While the occupants of the Garcia mansion relaxed, thinking all the threats against them had been neutralized, one bodyguard worried. For he knew his father too well, and there was no talking him out of the vengeance scheme that he had planned all his life. But what he didn't expect, was that his father was already on the move. It was two days after Isabella found out that the people closest to her had been keeping a vital secret from her, and she hadn't attempted to talk to any of them since. That's why when she left to meet with her old friend Elton, she didn't let Asher accompany her as always. Instead, she chose one of th
Isabella sputtered in surprise, not believing that Asher could be that shameless in front of her father. “Did you need anything?” She asked hurriedly. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” Lucas coughed awkwardly, forgetting momentarily why he had come into the kitchen to begin with. “Of course not but…” Isabella trailed, realizing that fast that Lucas was just messing with her. Their relationship had improved greatly, and she was slowly getting used to his witty side that she never knew existed. “What do you really want, dad?” “I thought we could talk.” Lucas replied seriously. It's about time he came clean to Isabella about her biological father and everything else Marina would have wanted her to know. Lucas had conveyed the thought to Marcia, who too agreed it's about damn time. “About?” Isabella frowned. One look at Lucas and Asher knew he should excuse himself. Kissing his girlfriend briefly on the forehead, he left, assuring her that her was going straight back to bed. Marcia h
It had been over three weeks since Isabella and her old man returned to their old mansion. Though Lucas was adamant about it, the two have already enlisted the mansion for sale and a new place is almost ready for them to move in. Isabella felt they had a lot of bad memories in the house to keep kivbg there like nothing had happened. Especially after Edith's hearing a week ago where she finally had the guts to tell Lucas to his face that he didn't father her daughters. And though Asher had already told Isabella and Lucas that days prior, it still sounded so callous and cold coming from the horses mouth. That left Isabella conflicted. On one hand she hated her step siblings, Jacinta and Olivia. But after the revelation, she pitied them more. Must be hurtful to know of their shameful bloodline. One moment they called him grandfather the next they can't fathom calling him father. After much negotiations, she and Lucas agreed the two had no choice in how they got into the world. But at the
“Shut up asshole.” Someone mumbled shakily. Leave it to Bich to water down heavy moments. The wailing couple didn't even seem like they had noticed the surrounding bickering. They only had eyes for each other. “ I can't believe you are back,” Isabella moaned, tightening her hands on her lover. It had been quite tough holding on to the belief that Dragana would get Asher back for her. “I am here.” Asher croaked, thankful for finally having the one person he can't imagine a life without in his arms. All the torture that Fredric had put him through felt worth it. He would gladly go through it again to ensure Isabella is safe. “You are here.” Isabella agreed. Marvelling at how surreal it all felt. “You are really here.”“He really is.” Bich spoke up once again in what felt like exasperation, but in reality his eyes were barely seeing anything. “Can we cut down the waterworks now?” Everyone laughed throatily. Asher realized Isabella was too emotional to let. And he would rather not sto
Asher grinned. In as much as he hated to see Isabella cry, it thrilled him immensely to see her emotional reaction due to his return. She squealed, decidedly freezing in her steps as undoubtedly happy tears flowed non-stop. “Go hug him already.” Dragana prompted, but Isabella didn't budge even a muscle. She wanted to. Badly. But her body didn't obey her mind, no matter how much she willed it to. Anyone present couldn't keep their emotions in check as Asher did the moving. More like limped to where his girlfriend stood and pulled her fiercely into his arms. For the two emotionally drained lovers, it felt like coming back hone as after months of starvation in the desert. They clung into each other and for the first time ever, Asher didn't give a damn who was watching or not. He broke down and sobbed his heart out alongside his girlfriend at the glare of their friends shamelessly. Thing is, no one would have dared judge them among their spectators be because none could claim dry eyes. T