5.

Avery’s POV

For the first time, Asher hesitated. His gaze softened, and something flickered behind his eyes; something raw, almost vulnerable. But then, just as quickly as it had appeared on his face, it disappeared almost immediately.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said in a mysterious tone. “But not tonight.”

He took a step back, finally breaking the intense standoff between him and Julian. His gaze lingered on Avery for a moment longer before he smirked. “Get some rest, Avery. We’ll see each other again soon.”

And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. She should have stopped him, but her legs failed to move. She somehow believed that they would see each other again.

The moment the door was shut, Avery let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. She turned to Julian, her mind racing with questions.

“What was that?” she demanded. “What did he mean?”

Julian ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “Forget about him, Avery.” he said.

“Forget about him?” she repeated incredulously. There was no way she could forget, not when she already knew that he wasn't joking at all. He might have claimed she was someone else, but she knew now that it was not just an empty claim.

“Are you serious? He just told me there’s something I don’t remember! And you’re acting like—” She stopped, narrowing her eyes. “Like you already know what he’s talking about. You and I know that I have temporary amnesia. How did he know that!” she shouted.

For the first time that morning, Avery was glad that her sons were not in the house presently.

Julian didn’t answer right away, but his silence spoke volumes. He knew something that he was not telling her and that upset her. This was Julian who had stood beside her through the good and bad. There was no secrets between them, so why was he not telling her what she needed to know.

Avery took a step forward, her heart pounding. “Julian. Tell me the truth.” she pleaded.

His jaw tightened, his gaze darting toward the doorway where Asher had disappeared like he was considering running after Asher instead of having this conversation with her.

Avery let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. She took a step closer to Julian. She had a lot of questions in her mind.

“What was that all about between you two?” she demanded.

Julian ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “It’s just Asher being Asher,” he muttered, his tone laced with frustration.

Avery frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Julian scoffed, shaking his head. “He’s obsessive. Possessive. Once he sets his sights on something, he won’t let go. I'm sure he was fascinated by you, I just don't know why and it bothers me.” he told her.

Her stomach twisted uneasily. That wasn’t the answer she had been expecting. Obsessed? Yes. If you could call him insisting that she was someone else, obsession. “You say that like you know him well.” she asked eyeing him.

There was no use hiding it. It had been obvious since Julian arrived that they both knew each other. Especially after Asher had called his full name, Julian Edelman.

Julian’s jaw tightened. “I know enough.” he muttered in a dismissive voice.

He stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face, as if searching for something. “How do you know him, Avery?” he asked instead, changing the topic.

She hesitated for a second before answering. Julian would still find out from the boys, so there was no use in hiding their meeting. “I don’t … not really,” she admitted.

“I met him at the mall a few days ago. The day we were talking on phone, I was supposed to meet the realtor, but he… he approached me and mistook me for someone else. A woman named Raina Ross. And ever since then, he won’t stop calling me that.”

Julian’s expression darkened. “And he just found his way to your apartment? Just like that?” he said. His tone sounded like he doubted her, but that was the truth. She didn't know how he had found her apartment too.

Avery nodded slowly, a shiver running down her spine. “I don’t know how he knows where I live.” she said. She didnt know why, but it felt like Julian was interrogating her.

Julian huffed, crossing his arms. “Of course he does. That’s Asher Storm.” His voice was edged with irritation, his eyes stormy with something she couldn’t quite place. “Once he locks onto something or someone, he always finds a way.”

There was a warning in his tone, one that made her stomach tighten as he continued.

“Avery, listen to me.” Julian’s voice dropped, turning serious. “Stay far away from him. He’s not the kind of person you should get involved with.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze flickering away for a brief moment before meeting hers again.

Avery studied Julian’s face, noting the tension in his jaw, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides. He was worked up, more than she expected. She didn’t say it, but she could hear the jealousy in his tone. Why Julian would be jealous was beyond her.

It wasn't like she needed Julian to remind her that she needed to stay away from Asher. The problem was not her, it was him who needed to stay away from her.

Last she checked, she wasn't the one showing up unexpectedly at his door.

Instead of pointing it out, she folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. He was jealous and for the first time, she doubted his warnings if they were really genuine. “Why are you here, Julian? I didn’t know you were back in the States. I thought you had meetings this week.” she asked.

His lips pressed into a thin line, already getting her message to drop the subject. “I do. I’m here for business and also visiting family.” Julian exhaled, then added, “And now, apparently, to deal with him.”

Avery frowned. “You mean Asher?” she said rolling her eyes. She knew Julian had come to see her, other reasons were just excuses. Just as his feelings for her were very obvious though she acted like she didn't know.

Julian nodded, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know how deep his obsession runs, but trust me, Avery, it’s not something you want to test.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Stay away from him.”

She swallowed, wanting to push back, to tell him she wasn’t afraid of Asher Storm. But the truth was, she didn’t know what to think. Asher was a mystery, one that unsettled her but also drew her in. She wasn't going to tell Julian that.

Instead of arguing, she looked up at Julian. “You don't need to remind me about that." She mumbled. "So you just happened to show up here?” she said in a lighter tone, wiggling her eyebrows.

Julian hesitated for only a second before answering. “I was nearby.” he muttered.

She gave him a skeptical look, rolling her eyes.

He sighed. “Okay, maybe I wanted to see you.” His voice softened slightly, his usual confidence slipping just enough to make her heart skip a beat.

A pause stretched between them before Julian cleared his throat. “How are the boys?” he asked. She had expected the shift. Once things begin to get emotional and personal between them, Julian somehow found a way to shift their feelings.

Avery’s expression softened, hearing about her sons. “They’re good. Settling in as expected. They are in school right now…" she told him.

Julian nodded, his gaze flickering with something unreadable before he met her eyes again. “They are adjusting okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah. It’s a change, but they’ll be fine. At least they're tolerable for now.” she said.

They had issues the first few days. Noel had wanted to go back while Neal didn't want to attend the school she had taken them to. His reasons was because he didn't like the school gate which was different from his former school.

Weird, but that was her son Neal.

He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Good.” he muttered, walking over to one of the couches and collapsing on it.

Avery exhaled too, glancing toward the empty space where Asher had stood moments ago. The weight of his presence still lingered, leaving behind a trail of unease.

Something told her that Asher Storm wasn’t going to disappear so easily. He would be back.