Chapter Thirty Two

Asher Lancaster

I find myself captivated by Zara's presence, yet she refuses to meet my gaze, her eyes fixated on the ground as if it holds the secrets to the universe. I start to speak, intending to address the issue with my mother, but she dismisses me with a wave of her hand, accompanied by a light-hearted laughter that barely masks the underlying sadness.

"I've become quite familiar with overbearing mothers," she quips, her tone carrying a hint of self-awareness. "No need to worry, Asher. I may have a reputation for having my head in the clouds, but I'm not delusional enough to believe that we could ever end up together." Her words are tinged with a mixture of humor and sadness, a facade she puts up to shield her unhappiness. Despite her playful demeanor, I can see the longing in her eyes.

Previously, I brushed off Zara's crush on me as a typical schoolgirl infatuation, something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, as we've spent more time together, I've come to reali