bChapter /bb207 /b

    Ashton’s smile grew even deeper, “I wasn’t sure at first, but after hearing your tone of voice just now, babe, I’m a hundred percent sure now.”

    Briar red up and asked, “Ashton, did you set me up on purpose?”

    Ashton nodded, openly admitting it, and said, “Yeah, what else could I do? My baby has way too many identities and hides them so well. if I didn’t trick you, how would you ever confess to me?”

    Ashton finally let go of Briar, got up, and half–squatted by the bed. He took both of Briar’s hands in his palms and said, “Babe, I know you came back to the country with some secrets you can’t reveal. Maybe, initially, you got close to me because you wanted to take advantage of my identity…”

    Briar’s heart raced as she defended herself, “No, I didn’t. I was just blinded by your stunning looks,” she said.

    Ashton was at a loss for words, thinking, ‘If my wife only loves me for my looks, how am I supposed to keep this rtionship going? Ask online, I need an answer urgently.

    Ashton nodded and said, “Alright, even if you initially got close to me because of my looks, what about now? I’m already yours. With all the resources and connections at my fingertips, isn’t it only natural for you, as my girlfriend, to use them?”

    Briar blinked in disbelief, even sitting up in bed and giving Ashton aplicated look. “I’ve seen sugar daddies hand out resources, but I’ve never seen anyone like you practically begging someone to take them.

    “Ashton, do your business partners know you’re this generous?” she teased.

    Ashton, feeling unhappy, replied, “Babe, it really hurts me to hear you say that.”

    Briar shrugged it off, pulling her hand out of his. “Ashton, can you be serious for once?” she said.

    Ashton had no choice but to nod, then reached out and took her hand back. “Okay, okay, I’m serious now. So, can you finally tell me the truth?”

    Briar shook her head and said, “No.” Ashton was speechless.

    Briar’s fingers traced the circles in Ashton’s palm. “Ashton, don’t ask. I’ll tell you when I can, alright?” she said.

    Ashton gazed at her so intently that Briar almost felt herself surrendering right then and there. “Alright, tell me when you’re ready.”

    Briar quietly heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Honestly, if Ashton had been just a bit more forceful, with that gorgeous face of his so close, I might’ve actually spilled everything,‘ she thought.

    “But even if you don’t want to tell me why you came back, can you at least be honest with me that besides being Tristan’s apprentice, the Speed Queen Bree, and the Legendary Hacker Bree, do you have any other secret identities?” Ashton asked.

    Briar was feeling seriously guilty deep down, thinking to herself, ‘As expected of Ashton Wade! All your questions hit right at my weak spots.’

    But out loud she said, “Of course not! No matter how impressive I might seem, I’m just an 18–year–old girl. I don’t have so much time to pick up so many

    things.”

    Ashton nodded in agreement and said, “Yeah, just learning traditional medicine and hacking have already taken up most of your time.”

    Briar said, smiling, “Exactly. I’m human, not a god. No matter how good I am, I still have to put in sweat and effort.”

    ‘But a genius doesn’t need to work that hard,‘ Briar thought to herself. ‘A genius just needs to pick up a skill, and talent will handle the rest.

    After they finished talking, Ashton’s expression grew even softer. He asked seemingly casually, “When we arrived at the dock, we saw Emily and Sawyer left stranded on the yacht, locked up inside a shipping container…”

    Ashton kept a close eye on Briar’s reaction, picking his words with care when he said, “Emily is still part of the Wade family, so she’s been sent to the

    LE bMUY /b

    hospital. Babe, are you upset that we just let them go so easily?”

    Briar’s smile grew even brighter when she said, “Why would I be upset? I kidnapped Emily and Sawyer just because they pissed me off it’s not that ever nned to kill them. If I did, I could’ve just used my golden needles and ended them right there.”

    Ashton brought Briar’s hand to his lips and said, “That’s good. When she wakes up, I’ll make sure the second branch of the family gives you a proper apology.”

    “There’s no need for an apology; I don’t feel like seeing them,” Briar said, guilt practically written all over her face as she refused without a second thought.

    After all, there’s no way Emily and Sawyer would ever wake up. Unless, of course, they managed to get Tristan, the miracle doctor, to help them.

    ‘Let them have a taste of their own medicine,‘ Briar thought to herself.

    Ashton could read between the lines in Briar’s words, but he just chalked it up to how much she hated those two and didn’t delve deeper into it.

    “Alright, it’s fine if you don’t want to see them. But they still owe you an apology. In a few days, I’ll have the second branch of the family transfer thepensation payment straight to your ount,” he said.

    Briar’s eyes curved into a smile. “Alright, make sure you squeeze them for more. It’s time to spend money on myb right now,” she said.

    Seeing Briar so pleased, Ashton nodded. “Alright, I’ll make sure you get more than enough.”

    “It’s almost dawn now. You should go back and get some sleep; you’ve been busy all night,” Briar said. Now that she had gotten what she wanted, she shooed him away without hesitation.

    With a tone of disdainced with a hint of petnce, she said, “And your hand just touched the window, then you pinched my face and hand. It’s gross!” Ashton was speechless.

    Ashton got up, went to the bathroom, and wrung out a towel. He carefully wiped Briar’s face and hands clean, then applied her favorite moisturizer to both her face and hands.

    “They’re not dirty anymore, right?” Ashton asked.

    Briar waved him off and said, “See yourself out, and don’t forget to close the door.” Ashton could just shake his head and leave.

    Brandon had been waiting at the gate of Briar’s house. When he saw Ashtone out, he came up to him right away. “Mr. Wade, Hamish’s just sent a message, saying something’s wrong with Miss Wade’s and Sawyer’s condition.”

    “What do you mean?” Ashton, still in a good mood after a long night, asked casually. “Don’t tell me they still haven’t woken up yet?”

    Brandon was silent. Ashton raised an eyebrow. “They really haven’t woken up yet?” he asked.

    Brandon nodded and said, “Hamish said that they’ve done various check–ups, and everything looks normal. However, they simply don’t wake up. It’s like they’re the living dead or something.”

    Ashton turned around to nce at the half–open window on the second floor. Only then did he finally understand why Briar had swiftly turned down the offer of having Emily apologize in person.

    ‘It’s not that she doesn’t want to see them; it’s because Emily and Sawyer couldn’t wake up at all.

    ‘With how vengeful Briar is, I was wondering why she wasn’t even a little upset that we saved them. It turns out that she still has a trick up her sleeve,’ he thought.

    Ashton chuckled and said, “You don’t need to worry about this matter. Just keep the news about Briar taking Emily and Sawyer away under wraps. Don’t let anyone else know.”

    “Got it,” Brandon responded.

    Chapter b207 /b

    Ashton waved Brandon off to get some rest. While heading upstairs, he gave Hamish a call and briefly shared what he had figured bout/bb. /b

    b“/bMan, that littledy of yours is seriously fierce!” Hamish said.

    AD