Chapter 4

Since giving birth to Aria, I've always felt cold, so I constantly wear a scarf.

I never thought he would remember that.

"Don't let others see the mark on your neck."

Asher's fingers caressed my neck, and my gaze turned cold. I turned and walked away without looking back.

Ever since returning to my desk, my mind has been filled with the image of Asher helping me tie my scarf earlier.

"What mark on my neck that shouldn't be seen by others?"

I touched my own neck, fidgeting with the pen in my hand, feeling a bit agitated.

" Kerpan? Kerpan? Are you..." It wasn't until a colleague nudged my shoulder that I snapped out of my daze.

"I'm sorry, my apologies. Is there something you need?"

My colleagues exchanged glances, but all had smiles on their faces, as if they had come up with some mischievous idea.

"We're planning to check out a newly opened bar tonight. Want to join us?"

Seeing my hesitation, Miss Belmont, who sits next to me, said, "It's not just us girls, some guys are coming too. You're single anyway, so why don't we go and see? Who knows, you might find a connection!"

"Well... tonight I..."I stepped into the bar, feeling a wave of regret wash over me as I stood at the entrance.

"Come on, come on! Why are you hesitating now that we're here?" Urged on by the group, I finally made my way inside.

Being opening night for this new bar, it was packed. Thankfully, Miss Belmont had asked a friend to reserve a private room for us in advance.

After squeezing through the crowd, I let out a long sigh of relief once we reached our room.

"My God, why are there so many people here?"

I had just remembered that I originally planned to have a good talk with Asher tonight, but thinking back to his "ugly" face earlier, I grew more and more upset.

Asher probably wouldn't have time to chat with me tonight anyway.

His pure love, his first love had returned. How could he possibly think of me when he'd likely be spending the night with her?

" Kerpan, do you have a boyfriend?" Miss Belmont asked mysteriously. "You never join our outings! Is your boyfriend too strict?"

Asher's face flashed through my mind.

"Not at all. I'm single and don't believe in marriage."

Maybe it was because I was flustered, but my mouth moved faster than my brain. Before I knew it, I had already agreed to come out.I gasped for breath as I finally came to a stop, the silk scarf around my neck having come loose. Finding it bothersome, I carelessly tossed it aside.

I figured the dimly lit booth area of the bar would probably conceal the marks on my neck.

Miss Belmont and the others quickly dove into the pool, leaving me alone sitting at a distance, sipping on a glass of lemonade.

"Hello? May I sit here?"

A man suddenly appeared before me, blocking my view.

"Sure," I said, moving over to make room for him.

"You don't drink?" The man eyed the iced lemonade in my glass. "Then why come to a place like this?"

I gave a slight smile. "Company team building."

"How about a drink? I'm Brent, an engineer."

The man wore crisp athletic wear, and when he smiled, dimples even appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Hello, I'm Kerpan."

But before I could exchange more than a few words with Brent, the previously neon-lit bar was suddenly flooded with bright lights.

Everyone looked around, unsure of what was happening.

They thought some kind of smoke alarm had been triggered.

Suddenly, I spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

It was Asher!

How could it be him? Why would he come here?

Now it seemed he was walking in my direction.

When people are flustered, they often pretend to be busy.

Just as I picked up my wine glass, Asher stood across from me.

Vivienne was standing beside him.

"Asher, you see? I told you she's that kind of woman..."

Asher's gaze swept back and forth between Brent and me as he raised his hand to interrupt Vivienne.