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.

pained and pitiful expression, conveyed

once confident and spirited

She turned her

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

face, Asher analyzed the advantages and

backing her up. Now that Dad has passed away and I’m suspended from duty, there’s no one 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 backing him up. If you’re too insistent

upon herself and put herself

arrogantly, her gaze filled

want me dead. Even

was to become stronger

met, she cast him a

slowly as

taste lingered in his mouth. Unable to explain himself, all he could do

repentant and apologetic, you should tread carefully. You should answer my questions and help expose Annie’s true identity instead of advising me to let her go. You know

out of the ancestral hall without even

two bodyguards, ensuring

respectfully

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 afternoon

bodyguards exchanged looks,

Gwendolyn frowned. “Are my

carry out your instructions now, Ms.

had built a small

Asher had arranged for her first horse to

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

whip over. After bowing respectfully at her, they entered the

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

The twenty

look, Asher placed the pen

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

she stood at the door for