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.

pitiful expression, conveyed

once

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

that she had given him the opportunity, it was

yet indifferent face, Asher analyzed the

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 on finding out Annie’s identity and get into a conflict with Paul, Harris

would bring trouble upon herself and put herself in danger. He was genuinely concerned

raised her chin arrogantly, her gaze

what scares me the least. I’ve been playing by the rules over the past few years, yet so many people still want me dead. Even my own brother is helping to conceal the truth from me. So, what is there left for me to fear?”

to become stronger herself. Others, not even those closest to her, were not to be relied

their eyes met, she cast him a

slowly as his back

do was bow his head

Annie’s true identity instead of advising me to let her go.

stance, she stomped out of the

stood guard outside with two bodyguards,

three of them bowed respectfully

Follow the rules that Mr. Asher has set himself. Remember, it’s twenty lashes

bodyguards exchanged

Gwendolyn frowned. “Are my

We’ll carry out your instructions

was a child, Marcus had built a small equestrian center at

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

However, ever since the incident that

had already brought the whip over. After bowing respectfully at her, they entered the ancestral

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

Mr. Asher. The twenty whips are

Asher placed

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

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