Chapter 96
Ivy’s POV
The scent of vanilla and fresh berries mingled in the air as I reached for the sugar jar, sprinkling a little into the bowl. I was about to taste the cream when I felt a faint shift in the atmosphere behind me.
I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. I bowed my head, keeping my focus on the task at hand. I had done a good job of avoiding running into him until now. It was easy enough, especially with our mismatched schedules and living in this enormous mansion.
“Asher,” I said without looking, my voice calm but distant. “What are you doing here?”
I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. This was his house. I had no right to ask him that.
There was a pause, just long enough to make me glance over my shoulder. He stood there, hands in his pockets, his dark hair slightly disheveled, as though he’d been running his fingers through it.
His chocolate brown eyes were locked on me, looking me over like I was dessert.
I quickly averted my gaze. I couldn’t afford to focus on that, not now, not when he was standing just a few yards away from me. I needed to stay mad at
him.
“I wanted to talk,” he said, his voice softer than I expected.
I turned back to the bowl, keeping my hands busy. “You’ve said enough already.”
He sighed, the sound heavy with frustration, or maybe regret. “Ivy, come on. I know what it looks like. It looks like I messed up. I’m telling you, I would never do that to you. I don’t remember-”
I scoffed, whisking harder. “Really? That’s still your defense? You still think I’m buying into that bullshit? Being drunk or high doesn’t excuse your despicable behavior!”
“I’m serious,” he said, stepping closer. I felt the heat of him behind me, the way his presence always seemed to fill a room. “I want to fix this.”
I set the whisk down, gripping the edge of the counter to steady myself. His words hung in the air, tempting and dangerous. I shut my eyes, fighting the pull to give in to him.
“Asher, you don’t just get to waltz in here and say you want to fix things,” I said, finally turning to face him. “It’s not that simple.”
Undoing what he had done felt impossible.
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the vulnerability in them made my resolve waver. But then I remembered those pictures, the positions they were in, and the fact that it was with no other person but Taylor.
He had made promises to me. Told me he loved me. Told me there was no one else but me. All lies, lies I had foolishly believed.
“I know it’s not simple,” he said, his voice rough. “But can’t stand this, Ivy. Us being like this, it’s killing me.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t lose you, Ivy. I want you. I want us to fix things, please. This is so hard for me.”
I crossed my arms, leaning back against the counter. “And what about me, Asher? Do you think this hasn’t been hard for trust-“I paused, my voice breaking slightly. “Trust isn’t something you can just glue back together.”
? You broke my trust. And
He stepped closer, his gaze searching mine. “I know. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Just tell me how to fix it. Tell me what to do.”
I looked at him, and for a moment, I saw the man I had fallen in love with. The man who had swept me off my feet when I was at my lowest. The man who made me open up, who made me believe I was loved.
The man who had pleasured me in ways I didn’t think were possible, who had held me like I was the most precious thing in the world.
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Chapter 96
But that man felt like a memory now, blurred by how he had let me down.
“I don’t know if you can,” I said quietly, the words tasting like ash on my tongue,
His face fell, and I hated the way it made my chest ache. I turned back to the counter, picking up the bowl of whipped cream and the plate of bernes.
I was glad he couldn’t see the tears that had welled up in my eyes. He didn’t need to know how hard it was to resist him.
“I’m trying to move on, Asher,” I muttered, my back to him. “You should too.”
For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. I thought maybe he’d left, but then I felt his hand lightly brush my
arm.
“Ivy,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t. You’re it for me. The thought of being without you, of not having you-” He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
I closed my eyes, willing myself not to crumble. “You should’ve thought about that before you went to her,” I said, pulling my arm away.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy, before I finally heard his footsteps retreat. The door clicked softly behind him, and I let out a shaky breath, my hands gripping the counter so hard my knuckles turned white.
The tears I had held back finally spilled down my cheeks.
AD
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