Chapter 8

One of the photographers wandered closer, probably trying to get a shot of “the mysterious Hartwell brother.” Asher turned his head deliberately, catching the lens head on, and gave it a lazy smirk.

The flash went off anyway.

Seconds later, Serena was at his side.

She looked calm. Polished. But her voice was low and direct.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Standing here. Breathing air. Being handsome,” he replied.

“Asher.”

He glanced down at her. “Relax. You look great. So does he.”

She didn’t flinch. “You’re making things harder for him.”

“He kissed me, Serena.”

“And you let him.”

They stared at each other, a private storm forming in the eye of the polished room.

Asher’s voice dropped. “He wants something real. And you? You’re offering him a cage with velvet wallpaper.”

Her expression flickered, not anger. Not guilt.

Pain.

“He doesn’t get to have real,” she said softly. “Not without destroying everything we’ve been building since we were kids.”

Asher stepped back. “That’s not love.”

“No,” Serena said. “It’s survival.”

Later, when the press had been ushered out and the staff began clearing plates, Asher slipped out to the side garden.

He wasn’t surprised when Luca followed.

They walked side by side through the roses, saying nothing. For a long time, there were only the sounds of birds and distant traffic.

Then Luca spoke.

“You didn’t have to bait the cameras.”

Asher exhaled slowly. “I didn’t. I just didn’t run.”

“People are going to start asking questions.”

“They always do.”

Luca looked at him, then, really looked.

“Why didn’t you leave last night?”

Asher paused. “Because you didn’t ask me to.”

Luca stopped walking.

Asher took another step, then turned back to face him. “You want me to stay? You need to mean it. All of it. Not just the nights you’re lonely. Not just the rooftop confessions.”

“I meant what I said.”

“Then show me.”

Luca’s breath caught.

Asher crossed the space between them, slowly, deliberately. “I don’t want stolen moments in hallways or touches that only exist behind closed doors.”

“I can’t give you more than that right now.”

“I’m not asking for a parade. I’m asking for honesty.”

Luca opened his mouth, then closed it.

Because honesty meant admitting what he hadn’t dared to say aloud.

I want you.

Not in spite of the risk. But because of it.

Instead, he said, “You said not to lie to you.”

Asher nodded.

“Then here’s the truth,” Luca continued. “When I kissed you the first time, I didn’t know who you were. But even if I had… I don’t think I would’ve stopped.”

Asher’s jaw tightened, but his eyes flickered, something softer underneath. “That’s not the lie I’m afraid of.”

“Then what is?”

“The one you’ll tell yourself, when this gets harder. When someone sees. When your father puts the pressure on and your board starts talking about scandal clauses. When you have to choose.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“Yes, you are,” Asher said gently. “And that’s okay. Just don’t run from it.”

Luca looked away, heart pounding.

He hated how right Asher was.

He also hated how much he needed to hear it.

After a long silence, Luca said, “Come to the lake house next weekend.”

Asher blinked. “What?”

“My family’s estate in Westchester. They’re throwing a private celebration, only family and a few close allies. Press won’t be there. No cameras.”

Asher crossed his arms. “And you want me to…?”

“I want you to come,” Luca said. “As yourself. As mine.”

Asher hesitated. “Are you ready for that?”

“I don’t know,” Luca said honestly. “But I want to try.”

Asher’s gaze lingered on him. Searching. Measuring.

Then, finally, he nodded. “Okay.”

It wasn’t a promise.

But it was something.

Later that night, Luca sat alone in his room, replaying every word, every look.

He picked up his phone. He had three missed calls from his father.

A news alert blinked on his screen:

"Mystery Man: Asher Hartwell's subtle presence at the Virelli Hartwell engagement brunch raises questions. More inside."

His pulse spiked.

“Who Is Asher Hartwell? The Enigmatic Brother Behind the Hartwell Heiress”

He’s not just arm candy. Sources reveal that Asher Hartwell, younger brother to Serena Hartwell, served a classified stint in the military and now works as a private security consultant. Spotted at the Virelli Hartwell brunch standing alone in the shadows, his commanding presence raised more than a few eyebrows. Is he the family’s silent enforcer, or its scandalous wildcard?

“The Wildcard in the Alliance: What Role Does Asher Hartwell Play in the Virelli Hartwell Merger?”

With billion dollar stakes on the table, insiders are wondering why the Hartwells have suddenly reintroduced their estranged son to the public stage. One source claims Asher's return wasn't voluntary. Is this a calculated move, or damage control?

“Tattooed, Tactile, and Troubling: Meet the Black Sheep of the Hartwell Dynasty”

Photographed giving the camera a knowing smirk during what was supposed to be a discreet brunch, Asher Hartwell has the elite buzzing. Rumors swirl about his expulsion from the family estate years ago, his alleged dishonorable discharge, and a string of underground security contracts in Eastern Europe. Is he dangerous? Charming? Or both?

“Serena’s Brother or Luca’s Shadow? What’s the Real Relationship Between Luca Virelli and Asher Hartwell?”

They barely looked at each other… or did they? A closer look at the high res photos from yesterday’s event reveals subtle glances and tense body language. One insider called it “charged.” Are we witnessing the calm before a scandal?

OP: anyone else notice how luca virelli looked ready to combust when his future brother in law showed up?

Reply1: lol asher hartwell is hot af and looks like he eats men for breakfast

Reply2: not saying they hooked up but… that brunch tension was not straight

Reply3: he used to fight in warzones. luca’s never even fought his daddy. that’s a mess waiting to happen.

"This week: secrets, scandals, and stolen glances. When a reclusive war vet brother reappears just before his sister’s billion dollar engagement, you know there’s blood in the water. We’ll unpack the Hartwell family’s most hidden member… and why the Virellis might have a lot more to lose than just good press.”