Secret Scion

Noelle was long gone by the time Asher and Dove left the boutique. Dove was smug as she said, "Is she jealous? I was just playing with her. She actually got angry?"

"Everything is fine. She isn't jealous. You're thinking too much into this, Ms. Yaeger. I suddenly remember that I have some matters I have to attend to. I won't be accompanying you home." Asher hurried down without waiting for Dove's reply.

Dove's lips curved up as she watched Asher leave in a hurry. She muttered, "Can you beat me, Noelle?"

Asher came out of the mall just in time to see Noelle's car speeding away. He could not help but smile bitterly as he shook his head. To think she was getting jealous. Haha.

Asher had no choice but to hail a taxi back. Noelle's car was parked in the driveway, which meant that she did not return to the Steward residence.

Fact of the matter was, Noelle wanted to return to the Steward residence. She was irked by Asher. It had never come to her attention how lecherous he actually was.

Noelle was seated on the sofa with her arms crossed against her chest when he entered the house. She had a bitter cold mien with her posture conveying for no one to approach her. Seeing that Noelle refused to speak, Asher could only brush the bridge of his nose and say with a grin, "Dove has quite a good figure. But she's nothing compared to you."

Noelle snorted. "Don't you feel shame when you say something against your conscience?" Noelle warned herself to not easily forgive Asher this time no matter how sweet he was being. "That's the truth. If you don't believe me, I'll buy the same dress home. You'll see for yourself whether or not I'm speaking the truth." Asher grinned from ear to ear.

"I'm not that cheap." Noelle looked away but subconsciously looked down at her ample bosom. They were not small in the slightest. She was way above average even when compared to Dove. She suddenly felt slightly more confident.

Asher chuckled as he sat by her. "Are you jealous?"

"No."

"You are jealous."

"I'm not..." Noelle's voice grew softer and softer. She obviously lacked the confidence. Her face bloomed red before she finally admitted it. "That's right. I'm jealous! So what?"

Asher laughed cheekily.

Noelle continued. "Dove has gone too far. She actually put that dress on just to seduce you. How shameless is she?! You haven't had enough of her, have you? I'm giving you a chance. Why don't you go ahead and take a good look at her before coming back?"

Asher lit a cigarette and said, "My eyes may be on her but my heart is with you."

"You... glib talker!" Noelle wanted to thoroughly punish Asher, but she had gone soft. She gave in with just a few words. She could not help but give him a sullen pout. "You'll find out just how I'll deal with you if something like this happens again! What do you want to eat? I'm cooking." Asher and Noelle had lived together for two years, and they were spouses for those same two years. They had never acted as ambiguous as they were now.

Seeing Noelle standing up and preparing to go to the kitchen, he suddenly grabbed her by her wrist and gently tugged her in. The young woman fell right into his arms as she landed in his lap. She was blushing fiercely now. Even her eyes were nearly watering but she tried to keep herself calm. "What are you trying to do? Let go of me!"

Despite her protests, she made no effort to resist. her delicate appearance obviously wanted to refuse and welcome. Her pliancy seemed to welcome him despite her verbal refusal.

Asher chuckled. "What else can a man and woman do?"

Noelle blushed. "I'm warning you. Don't mess around, or you'll be sorry."

Noelle's words were far too unconvincing. How could Asher not see right through her. He put out his cigarette and gave her a wicked smile. "If my body should perish, girls I'll still cherish. You shouldn't provoke me."

Noelle clearly felt the fiery palm against her waist. The tingle from his touch was clear despite the clothes between them. It felt as if her body was crawling with ants. The itching grew unbearable, so she could not help but squirm away.

Asher's enthusiasm grew more intense and restlessness surged from within him, frantically rushing into his core.

Just as he was about to press a kiss against the warm petals of her lips, the doorbell rang.

Noelle jerked awake and hurriedly got up from his arms and straightened her pants as if she had been caught cheating.

"Who is it?" Asher asked helplessly.

"Ash, it's me, Lily." Livia's voice rang out.

Noelle pouted. "Dove is finally gone and yet here comes your sister-in-law. You have quite the affinity with women, Asher."

Asher was exasperated. "You're being ridiculous. She's your sister." He then opened the door. "You're both here, Ash, Elle." Livia seemed happy to see them. That was when she noticed Noelle's scarlet flush and could not help but ask, "What's wrong, Elle? Are you okay?" Noelle wiped her face and found it steaming hot. She sternly rolled her eyes at Asher. "It's nothing. Just a cold. You're here for Asher, Lily? You guys talk. I'll prepare some food." She then made a beeline for the kitchen.

"Did I come at a bad time, Ash?" Livia could obviously tell how flustered Noelle was. A man and woman unchaperoned-they must have been making out.

"You're looking too much into this. Anytime is a good time for you to come over." Asher sat back down on the sofa and relit the cigarette he had put out earlier. "Do you need me for something, Lily?"

Livia nodded. "Yeah. I discovered that Erick went to seek out Garrett Schmidt this morning. I asked him what was up but he wouldn't say anything. The Stewards have nothing to do with Garrett. So, why would he go out of his way to speak with him?"

Asher took a drag. He had already guessed Erick's purpose in doing so. Noelle had taken away his position as head of the family. There was no way he would possibly give up so easily. There was also a chance that he would go to Garrett for help.

Erick was a man with no principles that would do anything. That was what Asher was most concerned about.

"Maybe he just wanted to meet Garrett," Asher replied nonchalantly.

"No way. Is he trying to join forces with Garrett to go against you?" Livia asked.

Asher knew more than he let on but chose to not speak on it. He gave her a placating smile. "He wouldn't. Erick might hate me but he would never join hands with Garrett. He still has that bit of propriety."

Livia thought Asher's words made sense.

Asher could guess that Erick was up to no good but he had no way of knowing exactly what he

was up to. He felt unsettled and thus called up Castor and had him arrange for two resourceful individuals to monitor Erick's movements.

Better safe than sorry. A feral dog's bite could also kill.

Time flew by and a week passed in a blink of an eye.

Asher suddenly received a call from Hunter Larson that afternoon, saying that Ford Cook was officially stepping down tomorrow, and would elect the one who would take his place. Generally speaking, the election was decided through a vote, and there were many who supported Hunter, but Winston Ziegler's appeal was not miniscule either. Hunter was unsure about how it would turn out, and hoped that Asher would be there to lend him a hand tomorrow.

The next morning as he was about to leave to see Hunter, he unexpectedly noticed his cousin, Layla Knight's car parked on the side of the road as soon as he left the residential district. The window was slowly lowered, revealing a beautiful face.

"When did you get here? Why didn't you call so I could do my part as a host?"

Asher chuckled.

"How could I possibly have Master Crawford himself spend time on me?" Layla had no idea why she had to say something to diss him whenever they met. It would be quite uncomfortable otherwise.

It seemed to have become a habit over the years.

Asher was not angered. He simply laughed. "I've never peeped at you as a kid while you showered, right?"

How could Layla have expected her cousin to say such a thing? After all, they were related. He was definitely messing with her. She offered him a deadpan expression. "What the fuck are you saying?!"

"Why do you always seem so upset when you see me then?" Asher asked.

"I..." Layla was at a loss for words. She instead snorted. "So what? I'm not allowed to do that?" "Of course you are. You're my cousin. You can do whatever you like. If there's nothing else you need, I'll be taking my leave. I'll contact you again once I've got free time."

"Who said I didn't need anything? Get in the car!"

"Where are we going?"

"Where you want to go."

Asher was taken aback. Where I want to go? What kind of drugs are in Layla's bottle?

A faint scent of perfume that lingered penetrated his nostrils. It was refreshing and comfortable. Asher could not help but glance at Layla who was dressed in loose-fitting clothing. Her breasts were jutting out and looked substantial. Her lower half was clad in a pair of form-fitting denims which made her legs seem long and slender.

He had to admit that Layla was the most outstanding in his family when it came to her looks, figure and temperament.