Chapter 615
Chapter 615:
Though Abrial carried the title of the Carter family’s eldest daughter and wielded a managerial role within the family’s business empire, the reality was far from glamorous. Most members of the Carter family regarded her with cold indifference, save for her grandfather and stepmother, who had always offered her the warmth of genuine affection. It wasn’t until the company she had partnered with Ashton began to soar, gaining significant success, that the once-dismissive eyes of the family began to flicker with newfound respect.
So, she wasn’t surprised by Craig’s apathy toward her life and death. But Ashton was different. His reaction, his anger, was a bitter pill she hadn’t expected.
Unable to hold back any longer, she ventured carefully, “Ashton, did Craig’s words hit a nerve? You seem even angrier than I am.”
Ashton fell silent, the tension in his jaw tightening as he took a moment to gather his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavier, laden with something she couldn’t quite place.
“You’re now aware that I’m the third son of the Baldwin family. I’ve got two older brothers, both of whom are much older than me. They took care of me when I was young. I made mistakes—silly ones. I was naive and took advantage of their indulgence. My family was about to kick me out, but my brothers used their influence to protect me, to give me another chance. They sacrificed a lot for me, and for that, I owe them everything. Even when I spared the lives of the Marquez brothers, it had everything to do with my brothers.”
He exhaled slowly, as if trying to release the pressure building in his chest. “The car accident in Inewood? It happened while I was chasing an international assassin, someone trying to kill my second brother.”
Abrial stood there, absorbing his words, a swirl of emotions tugging at her. His respect for his brothers was palpable, and he attached great importance to familial bonds. Ashton wasn’t angry about the threat to their lives—it was fury over the casual disregard Craig had shown for her.
And at that moment, Abrial realized something she hadn’t fully grasped before—there was still so much she didn’t know about Ashton.
Sympathy swelled within her, mixed with something else she couldn’t name. Deciding to lift his spirits, she changed the subject with a playful smirk.
“You’re truly the man I’ve come to respect,” she said softly, a teasing light in her eyes. “So loyal, so righteous. Since you’re so loyal, don’t forget the promise you made to me. You owe me a taste of you.”
Without warning, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips, a brief, teasing touch that left both of them breathless. Then, with a carefree bounce, she turned and disappeared down the hallway.
Ashton watched her retreating figure, a flurry of emotions tangled in his chest. He stood there, rooted to the spot, the weight of her kiss heavy in his mind. Eventually, he returned to his room, tossing and turning restlessly in bed, his thoughts a storm that refused to settle. The comfort of sleep eluded him until the early hours of the morning, when, at last, he drifted into a deep slumber.
The knock on his door was sharp, insistent. He opened his eyes to the harsh light of reality.
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