“Ash, I swear I have no idea what you are talking about. I barely use the cards your father gave me, let alone take out more or pull money from accounts.” My stomach tightens at the sound of my mother’s voice and the topic of conversation between them.

“I don’t care about any of that. I just want to know your price. You don’t need to sneak around. I’ll give it to you.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” my mom hisses.

“A hundred million? Would that be enough?” My mouth falls open. “But you’d have to stay with my father if I give you the money.” Asher sets out the terms that he is agreeable to. Silence follows. My mom doesn’t say a word. I'm sure she’s in shock as much as I am right now.

“Asher.” I call his name. He spins around to see me standing in the doorway to the library. His face actually pales. I walk toward him. My mom's eyes are filled with tears that she’s holding back. I go into protective mode. Because no matter what I feel for Asher, I will not tolerate this.

“My mom isn’t a whore.” I’m so angry and hurt. My heart is breaking, but I know I need to do this. I lift my hand and smack him. My mom lets out a gasp of surprise. “You stay away from my mother, and you stay away from me.”

“Molly.”

“Don’t!” I snap. “I heard you. You promised me.”

“You don’t understand.” He steps toward me. I step back. His eyes narrow on me. I hate that my body responds to him.

“I said stay away from me,” I repeat. “Your promises mean nothing. Did you use me? Was this part of your plan all along?” My stomach turns at the thought of that being true.

“No!” Asher bellows, the sound echoing through the room.

“I think we all need to take a breath here,” Mom says gently. I shake my head no.

“I think Asher should stay the hell away from me.”

18

Asher

The past three weeks have been the worst of my life. I fucked up. No, I more than fucked up. Neither Grace nor my father will let me anywhere near Molly. My own sister isn’t talking to me either at the moment.

After I put some things in motion to get all this bullshit cleared up, I took off to Japan so I could finish things there as well. I need all of this done with. Anything that stands in the way of Molly and me is being handled now.