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.

voice, coupled with his pained and pitiful expression, conveyed how

gone was his once

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

him the opportunity, it was up to him

at her beautiful yet indifferent face, Asher

However, Annie’s different. Paul’s a count of Ospea. He’s got the entire nobility backing him up. If you’re too insistent on finding out Annie’s identity and get into a conflict with

trouble upon herself and put herself in

raised her chin arrogantly, her

over the past few years, yet so many people still want me dead. Even my own brother

the scenes was to become

eyes met, she cast him a

pale slowly as his back

mouth. Unable to explain himself, all he could do was bow his head in resignation and listen as Gwendolyn

you’re truly 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.

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

outside with two

of them bowed respectfully when they saw

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

and the bodyguards exchanged

displeased, Gwendolyn frowned.

disobey. We’ll carry out your instructions

had built a small equestrian center at the foot of the mountain

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

since the incident that had her heading for Fairlake, she

over. After bowing respectfully at

inside. Even though he heard

Asher. The twenty whips

a composed look, Asher

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

not leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door for a long time until she heard the piercing sounds