Chapter 146

ASHTON

Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!! How did I forget to erase that file from Asher's computer? How could I have been so careless?

Demi pales after I tell her about Asher's discovery.

"W-What are you…saying? How did he…no, it's too early. He c-can't find out, Ashton. He'll come after me…" I grab her cold hands and force her to look at me. She's so terrified her body is shaking.

"It'll be fine."

"No. He'll tell father and…"

"HE WON'T. HE WON'T, DEMI. IF he was going to, he wouldn't have bothered to call me or ask to see me. I still have time to convince him to keep your secret." Though she bobs her head, I don't think she's fully processing my words. Absentmindedly, I pull her head close and kiss the top of it. Our foreheads touch for a few seconds while her breath calms. "I promise I won't let them hurt you. Please, trust me."

"Okay." She mutters weakly. I kiss her hair one more time before leaving.