Chapter 48
Emma, a quiet, timid girl, had hidden behind Thalia in fear. When Davenport saw Thalia, he decided she was prettier than Emma. He blocked their path, demanding Thalia's number and making increasingly vulgar suggestions. Despite the crowds of students passing by, not one intervened.
Thalia, lacking self-defense skills, was terrified. Desperate, she bluffed about having a gang-affiliated brother who would make Davenport regret his actions. She actually called Asher.
“Remember you’d break anyone’s legs who bothered me? Someone is… Come quickly.”
“Too many for two schoolgirls.”
“Westminster School.”
After hanging up, she further intimidated Davenport with increasingly elaborate tales of her brother's prowess. Davenport swaggered closer. “Oh yeah? Call this brother. Let’s see how tough he is.”
“You’re all talk!” Thalia retorted, glaring.
Asher, at university twenty miles away, couldn't possibly arrive in time. Thalia hadn't expected him to; the call was a bluff. But within minutes, the Deputy Head and House Master arrived, escorting Davenport and his group away. Emma later told Thalia that Davenport never returned to school. This incident prompted Thalia to begin learning self-defense.
Sipping her wine, Thalia turned to Asher. “Did you call the school administrators that day?”
His dark eyes remained inscrutable. “Yes.”
“And did you go after Davenport later?”
Alex leaned forward eagerly. “Did he ever! You should have seen it. Nearly killed the bastard—though he deserved it. I was there.”
Alex vividly recalled that day. He and Asher had been playing basketball when Thalia called. Asher immediately left. Alex followed, and they drove across London to find Davenport.
“The idiot had no idea who Asher was. He started bragging about Thalia: ‘That girl’s exactly my type… can’t wait to get her in bed…’ He didn’t finish that sentence.”
The rest came out in screams as Asher attacked with terrifying precision. Davenport fought back but was overwhelmed.
“Eventually, his screams faded, and he just lay there,” Alex shuddered. “I couldn’t stop Asher—nearly got caught in it myself. His knuckles were covered in blood, his face splattered. It looked like something out of a horror film. Davenport spent months in hospital.”
“He was expelled afterward. His family's business collapsed—some convenient audits appeared. They left London entirely.”
“Asher spent time in the cells. His grandfather was furious, but his grandmother persuaded him to relent. The Blackwoods paid a large settlement, and Asher was disciplined by his grandfather.”
Alex gave Thalia a knowing look. “I was blind back then. I thought he was just being protective. Only recently did I realize Asher had his eye on you all along.”
Thalia’s fingers tightened around her wine glass. She’d never known he'd nearly killed someone for her. Fear washed over her—not for herself, but for him.
Asher had always been perfect. The thought that he could have thrown it all away for her… she would never forgive herself. Tears welled in her eyes.
Chapter 48
It was past midnight when they reached Kensington. The night air was crisp, the moon casting a cold light as Thalia walked ahead silently. Asher followed her into the building. “Lia, please don’t be angry.”
She remained silent. As she tried to close her apartment door, Asher slipped inside, his expression pained. “Are you afraid of me now?”
He rushed to explain: “Please don’t be. I’m not violent. That day, I just… his words about you, I couldn’t bear hearing someone speak of you that way…”
Thalia looked up, sighing. “I’m not afraid of you, Asher. I’m worried about you…”
He pulled her gently into his arms. “It’s over now. All in the past.”
Against his chest, her voice caught. “Don’t be so reckless again. If you’d killed him, your life would have been ruined… It’s not worth it, not for me…”
“But I didn’t kill him,” he said softly.
She hit his chest in frustration. “That’s not funny!”
His warm hands stroked her back. “Alright, alright. I promise to be more careful.”
“How long were you in jail?” she asked, her voice muffled.
“Not long.”
Her voice trembled. “Was it awful? I’ve heard they only serve porridge and bread. You must have hated it.”
Asher chuckled. “I did. Counted it as a diet.”
Despite herself, she laughed through her tears, hitting him again. “You’re not even fat! Are you trying to upset me?”
“Let’s not talk about it anymore, hmm?”
She looked up at him, eyes red. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to feel responsible. It was my choice, not your fault.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Asher cradled her face, wiping away her tears. “Don’t cry. It breaks my heart.” He leaned down, kissing her tears away.