Chapter 5

“Am I just a pawn in your hands?” Ivana whispered.

“What did you say?” He asked, not hearing what she said well.

“Nothing” she replied, sighting deeply.

The night air was thick as Ivana and Asher left the engagement party.

The murmurs of the guests fading behind her, but their mocking words still rang in Ivana’s mind.

She clenched her fists as she followed Asher into the black SUV waiting for them at the entrance.

Asher's movement looks calm and composed like nothing had really happened.

The only sounds were the soft sound of the engine and the serious look of the man beside her who was staring at his phone.

Ivana stared at his sharp jawline, his sexy eyes staring straight ahead, his hand resting on the gear.

She turned her face away, staring outside the car, wondering if she should say something. Alot was going through her mind.

Asher was the first to break the silence. His voice was deep. “Did you still love him, is that what you wanted?”

Ivana frowned not understand what he meant. “What is that?”

“To see him.” he said looking forward.

.“You think I want him around me?” Ivana said sadly her voice breaking.

“You think I enjoyed being humiliated by the man who betrayed me?” she yelled at him.

Asher grip on the seat of the car tightened. “I wouldn’t know. You didn’t exactly push him away and he was all over you”

Ivana sucked in a sharp breath, her anger building up. She just kept silent holding in her anger

His looked toward her for a moment, and said. “He was holding you and flirting with you”

She felt her body trembling due to her frustration. “I was not expecting him to do that, can you just keep quiet!”

Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the emotion she tried to suppress. “Or do you think I enjoyed the way he touched me?”

“Next time avoid him as much as possible to avoid people seeing you both. You are now my wife" He said firmly.

His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she was not sure if it was from anger or something else.

They spent the rest of the ride in silence afterwards.

When the car pulled up to Asher’s estate, Ivana was so stunned.

She had expected wealth, but not this.

The mansion was like something out of a dream.

It was grand, and intimidating with a breathtaking view of the city.

Asher stepped out first, walking ahead as if she wasn’t there. She followed him.

The butler greeted them at the entrance with maids arranged at both sides. “Welcome home, sir. Welcome home, ma'am”.

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Follow me.”

She hesitated before stepping inside. The air smelled of expensive leather, the house was designed with gold.

The walls were lined with expensive paintings, but there were no personal touches and no warmth.

Asher led her upstairs, his steps firm and controlled. He stopped in front of a door and pushed it open.

“This is your room.”

Ivana stepped inside. The room was larger than she expected, decorated in soft, neutral tones, but it was clear no one had ever lived in it.

She was happy they were not going to be sleeping on the same bed, as she dread being in his space.

A silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken thoughts.

Then, just as he turned to leave, she blurted out, “Why did you do it?”

He paused but didn’t face her. “Do what?”

“Step in back there. Stop Raymond from holding me.” Her voice was softer now, unsure.

For the first time that night, she saw hesitation in him.

His fingers curled at his sides before he finally spoke. “Because I’ve seen that look before.”

She frowned. “What look is that?”

He turned slightly, just enough for her to see as he has a cold look. “The one you had when he touched you.”

Something in his voice made her stomach twist. As if he knew exactly how it felt to be trapped in the hands of someone you once trusted.

Before she could ask anything else, he left, shutting the door behind him.

Ivana sat on the edge of the bed, her heart still racing.

The maids entered her room bringing in different clothes, shoes, bag and other accessories.

She sighed deeply thinking of the suitcases and the engagement designer things they brought was too much for her.

The walk in closet was filled with a lot of things.

She lay down on the bed as they arranged everything.

“Why did you bring in more clothes and all these.” she asked pointing at the whole lot.

“Madam Gloria Jackson ordered us to bring them here ma'am”. One of the maids answered, lowering her head.

She has also heard that Gloria Jackson, who is the grandmother of Asher, planned the arranged marriage with Asher’s father.

Ivana has a faint memory of who she is.

She didn’t know what to expect from this marriage, but something told her Asher was more than just the cold billionaire everyone thought he was.

She kicked off her heels and rubbed her eyes. The weight of the night pressed down on her, but before she could lie down, a thud echoed to her room.

She heard footsteps of more than two people running and hearing strange voices.

Ivana felt uneasiness in her chest. Slowly, she walked out of her room.

She followed the maids asking what happened. “What is going on, why the rush?”

“His sickness sprang up again”. One of the maids said shivering.

The door to Asher master's bedroom was opened.

She hesitated at first. She wanted t keep her distance from him. Would he be furious if she intruded? She thought.

Ivana entered the room, her eyes immediately landed on Asher’s figure on the bed.

He was gripping his shirt over his chest, his breathing uneven, his face pale.

His usually composed demure was nowhere to be seen.

"Asher are you ok?" she called, stepping closer.

“Get out of here, all of you.” he shouted at the maids as his head throbbed.

Ivana flinched at the sound of his voice but she did not leave his room.

"Go back to your room," he said, but his words were weak, lacking the usual cold bite.

Ignoring him, Ivana knelt beside him. "What’s happening? Where is your doctor?” She was devastated on seeing red rashes all over his skin.

Asher kept itching his body and face has gone red.

His assistant came inside with the doctor as Ivana stood there.

He was being treated by the doctor before he could regain himself back.

“Young madam, it is his skin allergy that usually relapse due to what he might have taken at the engagement party”. The assistant explained.

The doctor added. “You have to stay with him overnight to check his body temperature and he should take this medication”.

The doctor handed the medication to her and explained how many dose he should be given.

"Ok thank you" she calmly said, she was relieved he was going to be ok if he finish up the medicine.

Asher's body shuddered, as bead of sweat formed on his forehead and his neck.

He tried to get up but she made him lie down.

"You're clearly not okay yet" she said firmly.

His hands were shaking as he tried to push himself up, but his body betrayed him. And before he could fall, Ivana caught him, gripping his arms tightly.

"Thank you," he murmured, but his weight leaned into her.

She helped lie down on the bed well, noting the way his muscles tensed at her touch.

She never believed she will see this part of vulnerable and his struggling side. This wasn’t the cold, untouchable Asher from earlier.

She reached out her hands to feel his body temperature and he stiffened.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Checking your temperature," she said rolled her eyes

"Unless you want to pass out?" She added.

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t stop her.

She undid the first few buttons, revealing his sculpted chest as she applied the cold towel on his neck and chest.

Ivana spotted a bottle of water on the nightstand.

She grabbed it and pressed it into his hands. "Drink it with this dose the doctor prescribed for you."

He hesitated at first, but she lifted it to his lips, forcing him to take a sip and using the medicine. After a few moments, his breathing started to slow.

After 20 minutes passed, the tension in his body eased. His eyes fluttered open, locking onto hers.

He did not expect her to help him after giving her the cold shoulders.

Silence settled between them, heavier than before.

“The doctor said I should stay here with you overnight to help with your medication”. She broke the silence.

Just then someone barged into the room.

“You got me so worried again”