CHAPTER 40: I TRUST NO ONE!

Asher’s POV

Damn it.

It had been a while since I last saw Sera, and honestly, I didn’t know how to face her anymore.

Since that day... I hadn’t dared look her in the eyes.

I couldn’t even punish the real monster behind what she went through. And if I couldn’t do that, then what right did I have to stand before her?

I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to see if she was doing okay, even if she wasn’t willing to see me. But I had turned into a coward.

Yes, me!

The same man who had fought and won countless battles on and off the field, against enemies no one dared cross ... I couldn’t even win over my own baby sister.

The truth is... I was at fault.

And for everything I had done... for all the years I abandoned her without ever truly being her brother...

I shouldn’t be forgiven that easily.

"Captain, look at this!"

I was still lost in my thoughts when one of my men rushed up to me, holding out his phone with urgency in his voice.

"Isn’t she the girl we rescued from that hellhole?" he said breathlessly.

"What?" I froze. "Sera?"

I snatched the phone from his hand without waiting for another word. My heart was already pounding in my chest.

"Let me take a look," I said in an urgent tone.

I saw her being demeaned by some no-name girl like she were nothing.

That woman didn’t just insult her, she dragged us, her three brothers, through the mud too, not that I care.

But what I hadn’t expected... was Sera standing up for us.

She slapped that woman. Not for herself, but her brothers.

For me!

For the first time in a while, a small spark lit up in the hollow part of my chest... a flicker of hope I didn’t think I deserved.

Maybe... just maybe, I still had a chance. A chance to be acknowledged by her again.

"Bring out my key. I’m leaving right away!" I shot at my men and bolted the moment they handed it to me.

I kept my eyes locked on the live video the entire way. Every second made my blood boil hotter.

That Lucien guy.

His face wasn’t entirely visible, but I knew it was him.

The way he shamelessly declared my sister as his woman in front of everyone...

I clenched the steering wheel tighter with each word that left his mouth.

By the time I got there, I could already hear Sera defending us.

But that man? He was still going on, still mocking us. However, I couldn’t refute him.

All he said was the truth.

"Sera, why is he here?" Lucien asked.

"Didn’t I just ask to talk in private rather than make a bigger scene that it already is?" Sera said coldly as she slowly slipped out of my arms.

"Okay, if this is what you want, your brother will listen to you," I said instantly, trying to win her favor as I glared at Lucien, and that monkey man Joseph, who was looking at us like a fool.

"Just who the hell is that girl?" Joseph muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for all of us to hear.

Without saying much, he guided us to a private room, keeping the ones who had dared to humiliate my sister away, letting them ponder what kind of punishment awaited them.

The moment we stepped inside, Lucien broke the silence.

"Why are you here?" he asked in a sharp tone.

"Can I ask you the same thing?" I shot back, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.

"Sure," he said, and that damn smug smile of his returned. Then he turned his gaze toward Sera.

"I was invited... by Sera herself."

What?

My mind blanked for a moment.

Did I even have anything else left to say?

She called him?

I had already lost.

Fuck. What could I even say after that?

"Yes," Sera spoke up, her voice clear and a little cold. "I did call you... But you made the matter even worse! I mean, seriously, who wants this mall?"

"Exactly!" I jumped in, finally finding something to say. "And if she needs anything, her brothers are still alive, thank you very much."

For a second, I felt victorious. This was my moment to be smug.

But the moment was short-lived as Sera interrupted.

"No thanks," Sera said bluntly, bursting my bubble with just two words. "I don’t need anything from anyone."

Silence spread across the room.

"I had never once wanted anything from the Lancaster family other than their love and care, but all I ever got was the feeling of being abandoned... like I was some extra no one ever asked for."

Her words hit like a blade to my chest and I was choking on my own breath.

"And as for you, Mr. De Rossi," she continued as her voice was laced with bitterness, "I know you’re somehow obligated because of Adrian. So don’t you dare try to claim me as your woman... I trust no one in this world, especially anyone tied to the Lancasters."

"Sera..." I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

What could I possibly say?

I stood there speechlessly, dumbfounded.

My words caught in my throat. My chest ached so bad it felt like my heart might bleed right through my ribs.

"I’m not doing anything out of obligation. I’ve already made that clear," Lucien interjected in a low but steady tone.

"Sure," Sera let out a bitter chuckle. "If you hadn’t realized I was Adrian’s sister that night, you wouldn’t have even bothered to check on me."

That shut him up.

Lucien froze. He was just as quiet as I was.

It was obvious she’d caught him off guard.

"And Mister Jospeh, as for you... I’m not some bewitching witch who is after you friend, so mind your manners before you start to judge someone!"