The Ex and Her Riches

Asher’s face revealed a bitter expression while his eyes reflected a subtle look of mockery, though it was one directed at himself.

“Respond, Mr. Asher. You’ve always been a stickler for the rules. Don’t you know that you should answer honestly when the head of the family asks you a question?”

Gwendolyn tightened her grip on his chin and locked eyes with him, her gaze exuding a look of intimidation.

Asher remained silent. However, his mind wandered back to the words that Annie had whispered to him before she left.

She said, “Now that I’ve spoken up on your behalf, Gwendolyn won’t let you off the hook easily. Are you really not going to consider coming over to my side?”

She probably anticipated Gwendolyn’s arrival and deliberately said those provocative words to threaten our already fragile bond.

At that thought, he inadvertently furrowed his brows. Still, he remained silent throughout.

“Well, well. You did not even say anything truthful. Looks like you’ve chosen to help her!”

Gwendolyn’s anger flared up. Breathing deeply, she straightened her back and released her grip on his chin.

With a cold, disdainful smile, she remarked, “You’re truly her loyal brother. Whenever it comes to her. you’ll protect her no matter what. Asher, if Evelyn and I are both held at gunpoint one day and you only have one bullet, who would you save? Me or her?”

Asher’s eyes reddened as he saw her icy expression. He reached out to grab her hand. “Kiddo…

However, Gwendolyn took a step back when he stretched out his arm.

The small coffee table between them felt like an insurmountable barrier.

“No matter what, I will thoroughly investigate Annie’s identity. If you try to stop me, don’t blame me for disregarding whatever ties we share and dealing with you too.”

After saying those harsh words, Gwendolyn spun around and walked away.

“Kiddo… Gwendolyn, please listen to me.”

Holding onto his knees, Asher struggled to rise and stop her. However, his legs throbbed with excruciating pain, forcing him to pause for a long moment.

coupled with his pained and pitiful expression, conveyed

gone was his once confident

her heart, Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks. She turned her head and stared at him coldly. “Tll only hear your explanation

had given him the opportunity, it was up to him whether he made good use of

beautiful yet indifferent face, Asher analyzed the

supporting her. You can manipulate her however you want. However, Annie’s different. Paul’s a count of Ospea. He’s got the entire nobility

Gwendolyn would bring trouble upon herself and put

raised her chin arrogantly, her gaze filled

rules over the past few years, yet so many people still want me dead. Even my own brother is helping to conceal the

those evil–doers plotting against her behind the scenes was to become stronger herself. Others, not even those closest to her, were not to be relied

their eyes met, she cast

turned pale slowly as his back

all he could do was bow his head in resignation and listen

answer my questions and help expose Annie’s true identity instead of advising me to let her go. You know my temperament well; 1 won’t

her stance, she stomped out of the ancestral hall without even a glance

stood guard outside with two bodyguards, ensuring no one

of them bowed respectfully when they

distant clouds and instructed the bodyguards, “Bring the whip over. Follow the rules that Mr. Asher has set himself. Remember, it’s twenty lashes every

bodyguards

Gwendolyn frowned. “Are

We’ll carry out

a child, Marcus had built a small equestrian center at the foot of the mountain as she loved to

Asher had arranged for her first horse to be transported by air from Astoria as her birthday

had adored the horse greatly. However, ever since the incident that had her heading for

brought the whip over. After bowing respectfully

writing inside. Even though he heard the footsteps, he did not

Mr. Asher. The twenty

composed look, Asher

was already accustomed to this due to his previous acts of self–abuse, he swiftly removed his jacket. All he wore for the punishment was a thin shirt. He nudged the table forward slightly so that the pages that he had written

did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door for a long time