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 how helpless he was after being abused

was his once confident and

heart, Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks. She turned her head

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

indifferent face,

However, Annie’s different. Paul’s a count of Ospea. He’s got the entire nobility backing him up. If

that Gwendolyn would bring trouble upon herself and put herself in danger. He was

her chin arrogantly, her gaze

yet so many people still want

only way to suppress those evil–doers plotting against her behind the scenes was to become stronger herself. Others, not even those closest

their eyes met, she cast him a

slowly as his

he could do was bow his head in resignation and listen as Gwendolyn brought up her past

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

expressing her stance, she stomped out of

guard outside with two bodyguards, ensuring no one would

respectfully when they

the 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

frowned. “Are

to disobey. We’ll carry out your

big. When Gwendolyn was a child, Marcus had built a

birthday, Asher had arranged for her first horse to be

since the incident that

the bodyguards had already brought the whip over. After bowing respectfully at

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

The twenty whips are Ms.

a composed look, Asher

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

she stood at the door for a long time until she heard the piercing sounds of the