A piece of Lariette's memory is only shown briefly. Serena's gaze was still glaring at her future husband's relaxed attitude. Was Asher actually attracted to her from the start? Does Asher really like her or is he looking for all information about her to find weaknesses so he can torture her easily? Especially if she looks at Lariette's face, who is enthusiastic about telling Asher everything. If she could witness the memory one more time, she would be able to solve this puzzle.
For now Serena can only continue her charade. She hugged Asher's sturdy body tightly.
"I missed you, Asher."
"Even though we went on a date at the ice cream shop earlier?"
"Yes." Serena widened her eyes when she heard the word 'date' that first came out of Asher's lips. "You consider it a date?"
Asher averted his eyes. "I mean, I said that on purpose because you probably thought what we did earlier was a date."
"Then, what about you? Do you also think the same thing?"
"I'm trying to think of it as a date because we're engaged. It's impossible for me not to think of it as a date." Asher got up from the sofa and stretched out his right hand. "I can't bear to see you waiting for me to starve. I've bought dinner for you."
"You bought instant noodles?" Serena held Asher's hand.
Asher narrowed his eyes. "Why would I buy instant noodles when I have a black card and can buy any food!"
It's true what Asher said. On the dining table there are various types of food available from appetizers to desserts. Serena's eyes lit up looking at all this food, which was her favorite food. Even though she had only lived with Asher for a few days, Asher already knew very well what food she liked.
"Spend it all."
"Are you kidding me? There's no way I can eat this much."
"Haven't you always wanted to eat all this?"
Serena folded her arms. "How do you know? Even though I never told you this."
"Lariette once told me. Every time your adoptive parents buy delicious food, you can't eat it. Then, you can only enjoy instant noodles every time they eat at a restaurant." Asher's lips pursed. "Apart from that, I also just found out that you have been taking illegal drugs all this time. Regarding illegal drugs, Lariette never told me."
Serena grabbed both of her future husband's hands. "Asher, I'm honestly very grateful to be able to live with you now. You are my savior. You saved me twice in a row. You saved me from a cursed house and a cursed company."
"But, I can't guarantee that you will be accepted into my company because you want to be recruited through the regular employee route."
Serena shook her head. "It's okay. I prefer to achieve things on my own. Back when I first started working at Lariette's company, she recruited me out of the blue and my family didn't really approve of it."
"Therefore, as revenge, when Lariette died, you were ostracized every day."
"Then accused of plagiarizing someone's proposal."
Asher smiled faintly and patted his fiancé's shoulder. "In my company, everyone is treated fairly. You don't need to be afraid anymore."
"Is it true that they won't excommunicate me?"
"Later, when you work at my company, you will know what my company's work environment is like."
Serena laughed happily while looking at her fiancé's charming face every time he smiled. Asher didn't usually smile in front of her, even though Asher rarely smiled. What actually makes Asher smile easily today?
"Then, please help me, Mr. Asher." Serena bowed respectfully.
"You have to eat a lot first. I don't want my employees to get sick easily just because they don't eat."
"You look just like him."
Asher frowned. "Who is he?"
Serena accidentally let slip something that Asher didn't deserve to hear. She immediately pursed her lips as she took the spoon. "You don't need to know."
"I have to know. Could it be that you are playing with other men behind my back?"
"Are you jealous? What if I say yes?"
Asher scratched his head in annoyance. "So, you're secretly cheating on me even though I've been nice to you all this time!"
"He's just a friend, not my boyfriend. While I lived in my old house, the only friend I could talk to was my best friend in the world of online games."
This time Asher didn't want to comment. Because his stomach had been raging for a long time, he enjoyed his food quickly. Serena could only shake her head at the behavior of her cold-hearted fiancé who could also act like a child.
"If you're already greedy, you'll have forgotten our conversation."
"Now that I think about it, your best friend is useful and can help you."
Serena blinked a little nervously. "You're really not angry?"
"If he's a good person, I won't stop you from being friends with him."
*****
Holidays have arrived...
Today was the most stressful day for Serena because for the first time she faced Asher's family as Asher's fiancé, not Lariette's sister. What makes Serena look nervous now while doing her make-up is that she is afraid of facing her stepfamily. Will this family gathering run smoothly or not? She was afraid that this engagement relationship would not be approved.
Hearing the sound of a knock on the door, Serena became enthusiastic again as she smeared lipstick on her lips. She looked at her handsome boyfriend in a suit, making her cheeks turn red in an instant.
"What are you coming to me for?" greeted Serena.
"I want to give you a gift." Asher knelt in front of his fiancé while opening a small box.
Serena's eyes widened as she stared at a shining heart-shaped necklace. "This necklace looks expensive."
"It's not too expensive for me. Because you really deserve to wear this necklace."
Serena lifted her long hair and let her boyfriend put the necklace around her neck. It felt unreal because she was treated like a queen suddenly on her big day.
Asher smiled happily and kissed the top of her head briefly, making Serena glare even more. "I want you to appear confident today."