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Asher’s POV

I had a silly smile on my face as Esme ended the call.

I was grinning so hard and didn’t notice it until dad said something.

“You like her, don’t you?” he asked, looking at me from across the desk. “Is it that obvious?” I asked, dragging my hands across my face. “I’m gonna get hurt at the end, dad. I can’t like her. She won’t like me back,” I sighed.

My dad laughed.

HE LAUGHED.

I looked at him, baffled as he said, “It’s amusing to see you lose your mind over a girl. But it’s good to know that you won’t die a lonely man,” he teased.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh at my expense,” I grumbled. “Dammit. Why did I have to like the girl who has no intention of liking me, dad?” I groaned, burying my head in my hands.

When I didn’t hear my dad, I looked up to find him looking at me with amusement.

“What?” I asked.

“You really don’t see how she looks at you, right?” My dad asked.

“I do see it, dad. She looks conflicted. Like, she doesn’t know if choosing me is the right decision. I don’t think I deserve her. She doesn’t know that I like her. God, this is stressful,” I rambled.

“Just give her time. Give her all the reasons to fall in love. It’s sad to see her like this, son. She deserves the world,” my dad said, with a serious look.

“I will, dad,” I sighed. “Come on. Let’s go tell mom that her favourite child is coming. I swear, she doesn’t bother about me anymore,” I complained, entering the living room.

Esme’s POV

“Come on, Ginger. Let’s go,” I said, trying to carry her, while she ended up perched on my shoulder.

When I arrived, the guards at their mansion recognised my car and let me in.

I knocked on the door, and almost hit the ground when it opened, and a body flung itself onto me.

“Malachai, you overgrown child, you can’t do this to me, dumbass,” I scolded him, while Ginger hissed.

“I see you’ve brought presents,” he laughed, picking a very calm Ginger into his arms.

“Careful. She bites,” I said and watched to my utter surprise as she cuddled into him.

“Nah. She likes me alright,” he laughed, ushering me inside with his hand on my back.

“Sol, how are you? Have you not been eating properly? You look so thin. Are you not sleeping? How much do I have to tell you to not overwork yourself?” Val fussed over me, taking my face into her palms, while Alaric, Asher, and Micah stood around, enjoying me being hassled.

He had the nerve to laugh…

“Ma, let her go before you scare her,” Asher joked, walking over to greet me.

Opening his arms for a hug, he lifted me up and spun me around.

Setting me down, finally, he gave me the warmest hug that had me melting.

“How are you, sweetheart? I missed you so much,” he said, rocking us side to side.

“I’m fine. I missed the others more,” I joked, pushing him back. “Ouch. That hurts right here, Knight,” he said, holding his heart. “That’s good. Let it hurt,” I laughed, patting his bicep, and walking away with Val, as Micah’s howling laughter and Alaric’s chuckles followed.

Val had already set the table, and we all sat down with Alaric at the head of the table, Val to his right, Asher to his left, Micah near Val, and me near Asher.

Great. Now I have to survive dinner with this fine specimen next to me.

Lord, have mercy on me…

After grace, we dug in, and my first serving disappeared within two minutes. Malachai gawked at me as I shrugged and asked, “What? Haven’t seen anyone inhale food before?” and continued shovelling the food down.

My second serving of lasagna and a whole plate of shrimp managed to disappear within five minutes, too.

I kept eating till i could no more and then ate some more. When Val brought out the choco-lava cake for dessert, I almost died. It was so delicious, and the best part was that Val had made a huge amount for me alone…

Ah, what it feels like to be the favourite child…

“Do you want some more?” Val asked me, and I nodded groggily as she gave me another medium-sized bowl of choco-lava.

As much as I was sleepy and stuffed myself with food, the unmistakable warmth of Asher’s hand never left my thigh throughout dinner.

As I was eating, I almost crashed into the bowl but jumped awake when he gently squeezed my thigh.

“I’m awake, I’m awake,” I said, noticing the concerned looks of Val and Alaric, the amused look of Asher, and the startled look on Malachai. “I said I’m awake, Malachai. Stop lookin at me like that,” I snapped, already feeling grumpy with sleep.

“I’m sorry. I’m just sleepy,” I said, eating the cake.