148.

"I'm actually at your mom's place with my husband, and your parents are here too," Riya revealed, her excitement palpable even through the phone. "I thought it would be such a lovely idea to have a little family get-together. It's been a while since we all gathered. So, when can we expect you to join us?" Her words spilled out eagerly, leaving no room for Asher to interject.

Asher's brows furrowed in mild confusion as he absorbed the information. The mention of Riya's name tugged at the strings of his memory, reminding him of the impact she had on Kylie. He had seen the heartbreak his presence had caused Kylie when Riya first entered their lives. Ever since then, he had been determined to maintain a polite and amicable relationship with Riya, not wanting to inflict any more pain on Kylie.

A casual nonchalance crept into Asher's voice as he responded, "Actually, I'm currently at Madison's." He felt a pang of uncertainty, unsure of how Riya had seemingly materialized out of thin air. Wh