ログインIN THE HOSPITAL The doctor closed the file and looked at Asher with a calm but serious expression.“She’s stable for now,” he said, his tone steady but carrying the weight of warning. “But she was clearly under a lot of emotional stress. That’s not good for her or the baby. You understand, Mr Cole?”Asher only nodded, though his chest felt like it was caving in. His throat was tight, words refusing to form.“The pregnancy is already complicated,” the doctor continued, flipping through a few last pages before shutting the chart. “Her body’s exhausted, and the baby reacts to her distress. She needs complete rest and no tension at all. If she stays calm, she’ll recover. With the due date approaching, things will get delicate, so be careful.”“I will,” Asher said quietly. His voice came out strained, rough, almost unfamiliar to his own ears.The doctor gave him a knowing nod before leaving the room, the soft squeak of his shoes echoing down the hall.Then…silence.The faint rhythmic beep
Ivy sat at her desk, the glow of the computer screen lighting her tired face. Her eyes burned from staring at it for hours, but she didn’t stop until she hit send. The final file uploaded, the progress bar turned green, and a soft chime confirmed the delivery.It was done.She leaned back in her chair, exhaling a shaky breath. The project was finally complete, the one she had worked on for days with sleepless nights, endless edits, and too many tears she’d wiped away before anyone could see. Her hands trembled slightly as she closed her laptop.Her phone rang.The screen showed Mr. Christopher.Her heart jumped.She hesitated a moment, then answered. “Hello, Mr. Christopher.”“I just got the file,” his deep voice came through, calm but curious. “Tell me something, Miss Marlowe… is this Asher’s project?”Her stomach knotted. She knew this question would come, she just didn’t expect it this soon.She swallowed hard. “As far as I know… yes.”There was silence on the line. Then his tone s
The ride home was painfully silent. The hum of the car engine filled the space between them, the only sound in the air that wasn’t heavy with unspoken emotions. Ivy sat turned toward the window, her arms crossed over her chest, her reflection staring back at her through the dark glass. Asher’s knuckles were white against the steering wheel, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on the road as if it had personally offended him.When they finally stepped into the apartment, the door hadn’t even clicked shut before Ivy turned to face him.“What was all that about?” she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion.Asher’s expression didn’t change. He shrugged off his coat and set it on the couch, refusing to meet her eyes.“What do you mean?” he said, his tone low but guarded.Ivy frowned, stepping closer. “Don’t play dumb, Asher. You spent a fortune tonight, on me! You outbid every single person there like it was some kind of battle. Why? Why did you become so… possessive?”Ashe
AT THE BALLROOM “…You really outdid yourself with this project, Mr. Cole,” one of the investors said, clapping Asher lightly on the shoulder. “If this goes through, Cole Corporation’s name will dominate international holdings.”Asher gave a faint nod, his tone calm and confident. “That’s the goal. We’re not here to compete, we’re here to lead.”The men around him laughed approvingly, glasses raised. “Spoken like your grandmother,” another said. “No wonder she’s grooming you for the top seat.”Before Asher could respond, a familiar voice sliced through the chatter.“Grooming him?” Jason Cole’s tone dripped with mock amusement. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, gentlemen.”Asher turned slightly, his expression hardening the moment he saw his cousin approach, slick hair, smug grin, and a glass of whiskey dangling lazily from his hand.“Jason,” Asher greeted flatly.“Cousin,” Jason replied smoothly, stepping into the circle. “Still charming the investors, I see. Must be exhausting prete
AT THE EVENT The car stopped in front of the grand hotel, cameras flashing everywhere. Asher got out first, straightening his jacket before walking to Ivy’s side. He opened her door and extended his hand.She took it hesitantly, her heart pounding as she stepped out into the sea of lights. The noise, the shouts, the constant flashes, it made her dizzy.Asher must’ve noticed. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Don’t worry,” he said softly, his voice grounding her. “I’m here.”She looked up at him and whispered, “Thank you.”They walked toward the entrance together, through the double gates. But as soon as they stepped inside, a man and a woman appeared, one at each side. The woman smiled politely at Ivy. “Miss, this way please.”Before Ivy could respond, Asher frowned. “Wait, where are you taking her?”“It’s part of the event, sir,” the woman explained calmly. “You’ve both signed the agreement. It’s the rule.”Asher’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t sign up for-...”“It’
A FEW DAYS LATER Things have been going very steady between Ivy and Asher. She is cautious while he is careful around her. Ivy still can't believe that he has changed so much towards her, she isn't complaining but the change still feels very sudden to her. “Focus, Ivy, focus!” She murmured to herself as she looked back to the laptop screen in front of her. The afternoon sun spilled lazily through the living room window, the air thick with quiet concentration. Ivy sat curled up on the sofa, laptop on her knees, her brows furrowed as she typed. The faint hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound filling the room.She had been working on the project for Christopher for hours, her fingers trembling slightly every time she saved a file. Every click felt heavier, guiltier. ‘I’m not doing anything wrong’, she tried to tell herself. ‘I’m just… protecting him...’She bit her lip, her eyes scanning the screen one last time before she started to type a new line-...“What are you doing?”Ivy







