Chapter Forty

Zara Howard

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, I slowly opened my eyes, finding myself alone in bed. The bed felt cold and empty as the morning breeze brushed against my face.

The realization that Asher wasn't beside me tugged at my heart, but I understood that he probably had to work. After all, it was already 11 am, and I had slept a lot, still feeling exhausted from last night's passionate encounter.

I stretched my limbs, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as I sat up in bed. A yawn escaped my lips, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions swirling inside me. On one hand, I felt content and blissful, having finally shared an intimate moment with Asher after years of being completely and hopelessly in love with him.

On the other hand, a sense of longing filled me, because I wished that he was still here with me.

I decided to get up and face the day. I chose a sweet white dress, hoping it would lift my spirits a little. As I stood in front of the mirro