Chapter 3

Days earlier, Asher had wasted no time moving Crystal into our home.

Then he placed her in the company, right by his side. When I confronted him, he brushed it off with a flimsy excuse. "She's new to the corporate world. I'm just helping her get up to speed."

Now, at the family dinner, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. He waved off further argument. "Crystal is outside with an urgent file. I'll bring her in."

He didn't wait for objections, striding to the door and flinging it open.

Crystal glided in behind him, her flowing white sundress accentuating her delicate frame. Her wide eyes darted nervously to play the part of a fragile damsel.

Asher stepped in front of her. "Ease up, Mom. She's here for work. Don't scare her with that look."

I remained silent, watching with cold eyes.

"This is a family gathering. Maybe I should leave," Crystal murmured, but not moving an inch.

"You've earned a break," Asher insisted, guiding her to the chair beside him. "Stay for dinner."

That was my seat.

The room grew heavy with tension. Margaret's gaze pierced Crystal's fragile act, her lips curling. "Save the performance, dear. We're all women here."

She set her fork down with a deliberate clink. "Your intentions are transparent."

Crystal's face paled, her eyes glistening with practiced tears. "Mrs. Terrell, I-I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb," Margaret snorted. "Back in college, when Asher brought you here, your eyes were glued to every antique. When you learned about our company, greed was all over your face."

Crystal trembled, her façade cracking.

"Enough!" Asher slammed the table, glaring at Margaret. "After all these years, you're still doing this? It's not about my happiness. It's about your control over my life. You broke us up and pushed her into depression. She's finally healing, and you attack her?"

"Control?" Margaret's voice shook with fury. "If I wanted control, I'd have kept Tabitha from suffering with you during bankruptcy. Who do you think pulled you from that abyss?"

"I haven't forgotten that!" Asher roared. "I'll honor her sacrifice forever. Helping Crystal doesn't cancel that out."

He grabbed Crystal's hand and led her to leave.

Margaret shouted after him, "Where are you going?"

"Any place but here!" he shouted back, leaving in a huff.

From start to finish, his eyes never met mine. Nor did he ask me to go with him.

"Let him go. He's a fool." Margaret's chest heaved with anger. "Stay here for the night."

I shook my head, rising from my chair. "It's fine. I need to go home."

This was between Asher and me. I couldn't let her feud with him over my pain.

In the courtyard, the car idled. He leaned against the hood, scrolling his phone with furrowed brows.

Clearly, he hadn't entirely forgotten me. He was waiting, albeit grudgingly.

I approached, my shadow stretching long and solitary under the streetlamps. He looked up, his scowl deepening. "Took you long enough. Get in."

He yanked open the driver's door and slid behind the wheel. I reached for the passenger door when a soft moan from the back seat stopped me.