Zane watched as Asher stumbled back, he had expected nothing short of that reaction from Asher. The widening of his eyes as he tried to take in the revelation, the way the words worked their way into his brain and he tried to make sense of it even in his drunken state. It was beautiful to watch but Zane knew he had to sell it. He wanted so badly to laugh in Asher's face.“You're bluffing. You're lying because you know the truth. You're just trying to derail me.” Asher's words held none of the fire he had used to call Zane a bastard. His words were slightly slurred and confused and he looked kind of scared. “You know I don't bluff. I don't need to lie to you and you know this.” Zane stepped closer to Asher who stumbled back. “Also, I have proof”“You're a liar. A stupid liar. I don't believe you. This is just another one of your lies. You're not getting to me, Zane.” Even drunk, Asher stood up straighter, trying to match Zane's guess but Zane could tell he was struggling. His eyes cou
ASHERWhen Asher heard about the banquet WestCare Group was hosting, he had debated going. He then remembered charity banquets, especially when hosted by a company as huge as WestCare, usually meant an influx of celebrities, notable guests and definitely reports. His mind was made up. He wasn't going. He would rather rot in bed all day, than have to risk being involved in another scandal like the one from the last cocktail party.But that text he received confirming Zane was attending changed his mind. The list had only been published after the invitees had confirmed their attendance. Yeah, there was no way he was going to sit on his bum feeling sorry for himself while that…that…him, goes to steal all the spotlight for himself. He could just see Zane’s smug face in his mind, mocking him for doing nothing while he took all the praise. He immediately bade Ryder good bye and hurried home to freshen up. Then he headed to his closet to pick out something to wear. Since the event was sta
Asher’s legs felt like lead as he trudged toward the finish line, where the crowd had already gathered around the cars that made it past. His heartbeat hadn’t calmed since he lost control of his car and skidded off course. if anything, it was climbing higher, choking him with every rumor tossed into the air.“Looked like a draw.”“No way, Mason crossed first.”“Ethan had him. I swear I saw it—”Their voices twisted tighter around Asher’s lungs. A draw meant nothing but trouble. A draw meant Mason walking away with smugness stamped across his face for days. It fucking meant Asher had to go on his knees before everyone and suck Ethan's cock.He found himself biting at his nails, one of the biggest pointers to his anxiety, as he stared unblinking as the footage was rewound on the projector screen. Each passing second was torture. Mason’s car and Ethan’s car. Both of them neck and neck in the footage and Asher thought he might pass out. Finally though, when the final frame was paused, it
The days after the polo game felt strange for Asher. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest and at the same time, Asher felt like he was drowning with a bag of rocks on his shoulders.That night at the bar where he told Ethan everything about his family and ended up crying.None of it had been planned and outside Zane, Asher hadn’t cried in front of anyone in years.But somehow, despite everything,, Ethan had seemed like the best person Asher could share all those things with. But the strangest part? These past few days, Ethan hadn’t brought it up once. It was almost as if none of it had happened. As if Ethan wanted to spare him the embarrassment of rehashing drunken confessions.Which left Asher in a limbo. On one hand, grateful. On the other, unsettled.And then there was Zane. Or rather, there wasn’t. It had been almost a week since Asher last saw him. From Zane’s schedule, he knew the man was meant to be away on some business trip, but that didn't make the hollow spa
Asher quietly watched Ethan drag a hand through his hair, exhaling as though he'd been holding his breath for hours. “I didn’t mean to hide it from you, Ash." He said in a voice rougher than usual. "The whole son of a viscount thing and the Maxwell group stuff. That’s… that’s a part of me I’ve wanted to cut away for a long time. I hate it.”Asher shot him a look from the corner of his eyes. “What do you mean you hate it?”Ethan let out a hollow chuckle, his eyes flicking to the windshield. “Because no matter what I did, it was never good enough. My cousin was the perfect Maxwell. I guess I shouldn't complain because even Ryder, my older brother went through the same thing and left the family as soon as he found an out. I stayed, hoping one day I'll be seen for who I am. I did everything just like the family wanted me to but, somehow my cousin shined brighter. Then I realized I was fighting a war I was never going to win. So when Ryder offered me a spot on his race team," His throat b
After a few minutes of looking around, Asher found his grandfather standing by under a pavilion that was close to the white fences separating the game field from the sidelines. The old man’s gaze was fixed on the field where riders atop horses were already taking their positions.Dragging his feet, Asher moved to stand beside him. He felt hollow and wrung out, as though the encounter he had with Zane in the shed had peeled back every protective layers in his chest.Grandfather Robert spared him a brief glance when he settled next to him but didn't say anything and turned his attention back on the field.Just then a loud whistle blew and the game began.As the players rushed forward on their horses, the thundering gallop of hooves sent a shiver through Asher. The horses tore across the field, and the players swung their mallets. Polite applauses and a few excited shouts ripped through the air.Asher's eyes was moving rapidly across the field and he didn't even know what he was looking