Hazel POVThe days after the break-in blurred together, but Asher became a constant, quiet presence in my life.He didn’t push. He didn’t demand answers. He simply showed up — always at night, always careful not to be seen by Mom or Lucas. At first, I resisted. I told myself I hated him for everything he’d brought into my life. But slowly, night by night, my resistance cracked.One evening, he took me on our first real “date.”Not a fancy restaurant or anywhere public. He drove me to a quiet hill just outside the city, far from prying eyes. A blanket was already spread on the grass with a basket of food — fresh fruits, warm bread, and herbal tea that helped with my nausea. The stars stretched endlessly above us.Asher sat beside me, his usual cold mask gone. He looked… softer. Younger, almost.“You don’t have to do all this,” I said quietly, picking at a strawberry.“I want to,” he replied. His voice was low, gentle. “You’ve only seen the worst parts of me. I wanted to show you someth
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