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Liliana’s Point of View We finished hammering out the details, and Zephyr read every line back to be sure we agreed. “Let me review the items one more time,” he said, scrolling through the tablet. Both Asher and I nodded. “First: yes to physical touch—holding hands, hugs, kisses, whatever you two decide. Liliana, you set the pace; if Mr. Windermere ignores your boundaries, there’ll be penalties.” I nodded, cheeks warming. “Second: no third wheels in the relationship. About your ex—what’s the plan?” “The ex‑fiancé will be useful,” Asher answered calmly. “We’ll let him stew in jealousy.” He arched a brow at me, and I nearly choked. He’d guessed exactly what I wanted. “Like it or not,” he added, “I’ve been part of your plan from the start.” I couldn’t help a quiet laugh. Zephyr shook his head. “Yep—still crazy.” “It’s not insanity,” I said, grinning. “He just reads my mind.” “Mr.—” “Hep‑hep,” Zephyr cut in, wagging a finger. “Rule three: no ‘Mr. Asher.’ You two need endearment
Liliana’s Point of ViewI quickly chopped the vegetables, smiling to myself as I noticed their amused expressions. They were watching me like it was the first time they had seen someone chop vegetables.“Wow, your faces are hilarious,” I said, laughing softly.“Are you always that fast at chopping vegetables? You look like a real chef,” Zep commented.“I took a year-long cooking class so I could cook for my future husband,” I replied, still focused on the chopping.“I’m ready to taste it,” Asher chimed in.I looked at him and chuckled quietly. Right, he is my husband.“Ash, here, eat this raw vegetable,” I teased, holding out a slice of cucumber.He frowned, took the cucumber, and then handed it to Zep. I laughed when Zep ate it, skin and all.I shook my head at them, amused. “Get out of here, I’m trying to cook.”They pouted at my words, and Asher lightly smacked Zep’s shoulder.“It’s your fault we got kicked out of the kitchen,” he said.I laughed as Asher gently pushed Zep out. The
3rd Person's Point of ViewLiliana gently held Asher's hand."Tell me everything. I need clarity, and hearing it all from you will help."Asher nodded slowly. “Okay, I'll tell you everything you want to know.” Liliana smiled and nodded in return.Flashback...“I'm serious about marrying you,” Asher said earnestly, his eyes reflecting genuine intent.Liliana's cheeks flushed as she saw the sincerity in his gaze.Asher took her hand, noticing the ring he had placed on her finger earlier."How about you? Will you marry me, Liliana? I want to marry you right now, without asking for anything in return."Liliana, now tipsy, nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I will marry you! Let's go to church." Asher was taken aback as Liliana grabbed his hand and stood up.“The church is closed right now,” he said.Liliana pouted, releasing his hand and clenching her fists to hold back tears.“You don't want to marry me. Gerald was right that no one wants me. No one wants to marry me,” she sobbed.Asher s
Liliana’s Point of ViewI sat frozen, staring at Asher as he shared everything with me. According to his version of the story, I was the wild one. What?! He was the victim all along! He felt sorry for me, that's why he married me.It’s all my fault because I was the one who flirted with him, and he had no choice but to go along with it. He even called the mayor and Zephyr in the middle of the night while they were fast asleep—just to make it official. Because of my insanity, so many people got dragged into it.“I'm really sorry about what happened,” I said quietly. “Don't worry, I'll do everything to make up for all my sins.”“Sins? You commit sins?” he asked, looking confused. “You didn’t commit any sin. Besides, I agreed to everything you wanted. Stop blaming yourself.”“Why are you being so kind to me? I did all those shameless things to you, and you’re my boss too.”He just shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know either. I find it amusing.”“Oh, come on!” I groaned.I grabbed the bottl
3rd Person'sAsher couldn’t help but smile at Liliana’s words. She said she would help him regain his sense of taste—and little did he know, she truly would be the cure he never expected. She was becoming the antidote he needed, the one who would bring back the flavors he had long forgotten.He glanced at her again. Liliana was sipping her drink, eyes fixed on her phone.“Damn those b*tches,” she muttered bitterly.His eyes followed hers to the phone screen. It was a photo of her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend, holding hands during a picnic. Other pictures showed the two entering a motel together.“They really don’t regret anything they did,” she said coldly.“People like them are addicted to sex,” she added. “They can’t stop or walk away from it. If you go back to that guy, he might touch you again—or worse, he might even rape you.”“If he dares to try, I’ll cut his damn thing off,” Liliana hissed. “They’re monsters—especially that so-called best friend of mine. A two-faced snake. I kn
Liliana’s Point of ViewI woke up to the sunlight hitting my face, making me groan a little as I hugged the pillow closer. But then I froze. The pillow I was hugging... it was breathing. I could hear a heartbeat. Slowly, I opened my eyes and widened them in shock when I saw him sleeping peacefully beside me.Of course, it was Asher.Wait—why were we sleeping next to each other? My face was practically pressed against his bare chest, and I bit my lip as I stared at it. I slowly moved away and realized he had no shirt on. My eyes trailed down, seeing that a blanket covered his lower half. I glanced at myself—I was still wearing my clothes... but where was my bra?I moved carefully, trying to lift his arm that was wrapped around my waist. I almost got free—until he pulled me tighter against him. My back was now pressed against his warm chest, and I could feel his breath on my neck.My eyes shot open again when he placed a kiss on the back of my neck.“Asher…” I whispered.“You’re plannin
Liliana’s Point of ViewDamn… Damn…“Wife?”I closed my eyes tightly, rubbing my temples as memories from last night came flooding back—me touching his chest, then sitting on his lap while holding him tight like some clingy fool.“Asher…”“Wife, don’t say my name like that. How are we supposed to convince everyone—especially your lawyer—that our marriage is real if you don’t act sweet to me?”“I’m not exactly the sweet type, okay?”“Well, I am.”I frowned at him, staring hard as more flashes from last night played in my head. Ugh! Why did I drink so much?I leaned my head against the window and gently tapped it, punishing myself.“Wife? Hey, don’t do that.”He quickly pulled the car over and rushed to my side, moving my head away from the glass.“Why are you hurting yourself?”“Please… just keep me away from beer forever. I’m sorry for what I did to you last night!”I buried my face in my hands, overwhelmed by embarrassment.“So, you remember what happened?” he asked, curious. “What e
Liliana jolted awake when her phone’s alarm blared by mistake. She silenced it, blinked at the wide space beside her, and glanced at the clock on the nightstand.“Two‑thirty in the morning,” she muttered. “Where are you, Gerald?”Unable to settle, she slipped out of bed. Gerald had stayed downstairs at their engagement party while she had come up early, half‑tipsy and exhausted. His absence now raised a warning in her heart.Liliana padded through the suite—no Gerald in the bathroom, none on the balcony. She tried calling him. A flat recording answered:“The number you dialed is unreachable.”A cold heaviness settled in her chest. She stepped into the hallway and almost stumbled over a pair of men’s shoes outside the room directly across from hers. Light glinted on the polished leather.“Gerald’s shoes,” she whispered, recognizing the scuff on the toe. “Did he wander into the wrong room?”Hesitating only a moment, she lifted the shoes, checked the familiar size, and eased the door ope
Liliana’s Point of ViewDamn… Damn…“Wife?”I closed my eyes tightly, rubbing my temples as memories from last night came flooding back—me touching his chest, then sitting on his lap while holding him tight like some clingy fool.“Asher…”“Wife, don’t say my name like that. How are we supposed to convince everyone—especially your lawyer—that our marriage is real if you don’t act sweet to me?”“I’m not exactly the sweet type, okay?”“Well, I am.”I frowned at him, staring hard as more flashes from last night played in my head. Ugh! Why did I drink so much?I leaned my head against the window and gently tapped it, punishing myself.“Wife? Hey, don’t do that.”He quickly pulled the car over and rushed to my side, moving my head away from the glass.“Why are you hurting yourself?”“Please… just keep me away from beer forever. I’m sorry for what I did to you last night!”I buried my face in my hands, overwhelmed by embarrassment.“So, you remember what happened?” he asked, curious. “What e
Liliana’s Point of ViewI woke up to the sunlight hitting my face, making me groan a little as I hugged the pillow closer. But then I froze. The pillow I was hugging... it was breathing. I could hear a heartbeat. Slowly, I opened my eyes and widened them in shock when I saw him sleeping peacefully beside me.Of course, it was Asher.Wait—why were we sleeping next to each other? My face was practically pressed against his bare chest, and I bit my lip as I stared at it. I slowly moved away and realized he had no shirt on. My eyes trailed down, seeing that a blanket covered his lower half. I glanced at myself—I was still wearing my clothes... but where was my bra?I moved carefully, trying to lift his arm that was wrapped around my waist. I almost got free—until he pulled me tighter against him. My back was now pressed against his warm chest, and I could feel his breath on my neck.My eyes shot open again when he placed a kiss on the back of my neck.“Asher…” I whispered.“You’re plannin
3rd Person'sAsher couldn’t help but smile at Liliana’s words. She said she would help him regain his sense of taste—and little did he know, she truly would be the cure he never expected. She was becoming the antidote he needed, the one who would bring back the flavors he had long forgotten.He glanced at her again. Liliana was sipping her drink, eyes fixed on her phone.“Damn those b*tches,” she muttered bitterly.His eyes followed hers to the phone screen. It was a photo of her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend, holding hands during a picnic. Other pictures showed the two entering a motel together.“They really don’t regret anything they did,” she said coldly.“People like them are addicted to sex,” she added. “They can’t stop or walk away from it. If you go back to that guy, he might touch you again—or worse, he might even rape you.”“If he dares to try, I’ll cut his damn thing off,” Liliana hissed. “They’re monsters—especially that so-called best friend of mine. A two-faced snake. I kn
Liliana’s Point of ViewI sat frozen, staring at Asher as he shared everything with me. According to his version of the story, I was the wild one. What?! He was the victim all along! He felt sorry for me, that's why he married me.It’s all my fault because I was the one who flirted with him, and he had no choice but to go along with it. He even called the mayor and Zephyr in the middle of the night while they were fast asleep—just to make it official. Because of my insanity, so many people got dragged into it.“I'm really sorry about what happened,” I said quietly. “Don't worry, I'll do everything to make up for all my sins.”“Sins? You commit sins?” he asked, looking confused. “You didn’t commit any sin. Besides, I agreed to everything you wanted. Stop blaming yourself.”“Why are you being so kind to me? I did all those shameless things to you, and you’re my boss too.”He just shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know either. I find it amusing.”“Oh, come on!” I groaned.I grabbed the bottl
3rd Person's Point of ViewLiliana gently held Asher's hand."Tell me everything. I need clarity, and hearing it all from you will help."Asher nodded slowly. “Okay, I'll tell you everything you want to know.” Liliana smiled and nodded in return.Flashback...“I'm serious about marrying you,” Asher said earnestly, his eyes reflecting genuine intent.Liliana's cheeks flushed as she saw the sincerity in his gaze.Asher took her hand, noticing the ring he had placed on her finger earlier."How about you? Will you marry me, Liliana? I want to marry you right now, without asking for anything in return."Liliana, now tipsy, nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I will marry you! Let's go to church." Asher was taken aback as Liliana grabbed his hand and stood up.“The church is closed right now,” he said.Liliana pouted, releasing his hand and clenching her fists to hold back tears.“You don't want to marry me. Gerald was right that no one wants me. No one wants to marry me,” she sobbed.Asher s
Liliana’s Point of ViewI quickly chopped the vegetables, smiling to myself as I noticed their amused expressions. They were watching me like it was the first time they had seen someone chop vegetables.“Wow, your faces are hilarious,” I said, laughing softly.“Are you always that fast at chopping vegetables? You look like a real chef,” Zep commented.“I took a year-long cooking class so I could cook for my future husband,” I replied, still focused on the chopping.“I’m ready to taste it,” Asher chimed in.I looked at him and chuckled quietly. Right, he is my husband.“Ash, here, eat this raw vegetable,” I teased, holding out a slice of cucumber.He frowned, took the cucumber, and then handed it to Zep. I laughed when Zep ate it, skin and all.I shook my head at them, amused. “Get out of here, I’m trying to cook.”They pouted at my words, and Asher lightly smacked Zep’s shoulder.“It’s your fault we got kicked out of the kitchen,” he said.I laughed as Asher gently pushed Zep out. The
Liliana’s Point of View We finished hammering out the details, and Zephyr read every line back to be sure we agreed. “Let me review the items one more time,” he said, scrolling through the tablet. Both Asher and I nodded. “First: yes to physical touch—holding hands, hugs, kisses, whatever you two decide. Liliana, you set the pace; if Mr. Windermere ignores your boundaries, there’ll be penalties.” I nodded, cheeks warming. “Second: no third wheels in the relationship. About your ex—what’s the plan?” “The ex‑fiancé will be useful,” Asher answered calmly. “We’ll let him stew in jealousy.” He arched a brow at me, and I nearly choked. He’d guessed exactly what I wanted. “Like it or not,” he added, “I’ve been part of your plan from the start.” I couldn’t help a quiet laugh. Zephyr shook his head. “Yep—still crazy.” “It’s not insanity,” I said, grinning. “He just reads my mind.” “Mr.—” “Hep‑hep,” Zephyr cut in, wagging a finger. “Rule three: no ‘Mr. Asher.’ You two need endearment
Liliana’s Point of View I swallowed hard. Calling my boss a servant suddenly felt ridiculous. “N‑Never mind,” I muttered, drying my hands. “Let’s just go.” Before I could step away, Asher planted one hand on the wall, caging me. His face hovered inches from mine. “You still haven’t answered my question. Don’t you want me in your plan, wife?” I cleared my throat. “M‑Mr. Asher—” “Wrong title,” he whispered. “I’m your husband.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and grazed it with a fleeting kiss. My cheeks burned. “We’ll talk at your condo—with your lawyer present—so you can see exactly how you’ll fit,” I said, keeping my voice steady. His brows pinched, hurt flickering in his eyes. “So… all this time, I was never part of your plan.” He stepped back, shoulders stiff. “I’ll wait in the car.” He walked off. I rubbed my temples. Great. I’ve wounded a billionaire’s pride. After locking up, I found him holding the car door for me. “Thank you,” I murmured. He nodded once, sl
Liliana’s Point of View I clapped a hand over my mouth. “I already tasted that,” he murmured. “I was unconscious. I don’t remember a thing,” I shot back. Asher eased closer until our noses almost brushed. “Want me to remind you?” My eyes went wide. I shoved his face away. “N‑No, thanks!” He chuckled softly. “You really are adorable when you panic.” Heat flared in my cheeks. “Are you laughing at me?” “Fine, I’m sorry.” He straightened. “Ready to head out?” I nodded, then paused. “It’s scorching—maybe you should drink water first?” His grin widened. “Concerned about me? I like that, wife.” I rolled my eyes. “Come inside.” In the kitchen I fetched a bottle from the fridge—spotting an array of fresh ingredients that made my stomach rumble. The farmhouse was miles from any café, too. “Hungry?” he asked. “If you haven’t decided on a restaurant, I’ll cook us brunch—well, lunch by now.” “Your kitchen, your rules.” He leaned against the counter. “Need a hand?” “I’ve got it. Sit