Chapter 75

That afternoon, Matt Ford moved the CEO's laptop, along with contracts, reports, proposals, and project documents needed for the next few days, into Thalia's hospital room. He even arranged for a desk and chair to be set up.

Although Thalia had hired a private nurse, Asher insisted on personally caring for her. In truth, there wasn't much for him to do. Nurses handled medications and IV treatments; a housekeeper prepared meals; and the nurse's aide managed cleaning and other basic needs. But despite his incredibly busy schedule, Asher constantly found ways to be helpful.

Thalia's mere mention that he'd made soup for Grace—even though he hadn't—clearly bothered her. To cheer her up, Asher promised to make homemade soup the next morning. When the housekeeper brought food, Asher insisted on arranging it on the bedside table and feeding Thalia bite by bite.

Thalia smiled with gentle exasperation. "I'm not a child, darling. I can feed myself perfectly well."

"Absolutely not. You have an IV—it's far too awkward for you."

After meals, Asher poured water and supervised her taking her medicine. He even insisted on peeling or slicing any fruit she wanted.

Thalia laughed, glancing at the pile of documents on his desk. "Aren't you dreadfully busy, my love?"

"Never too busy to properly care for the most precious person in my life," he replied warmly.

The nurse's aide smiled. "Miss Winters, your husband absolutely adores you."

Thalia's cheeks flushed, but she didn't correct her. After the nurse's aide left, Asher looked up, his eyes sparkling. "So you're accepting me as your husband now, are you?"

Thalia blinked playfully. "Didn't you say I'd be your wife sooner or later? I'm not planning to run, and I couldn't escape you anyway, so I might as well accept my fate, mightn't I?"

He smiled. "That's much better, my love."

Under Asher's attentive care, Thalia recovered quickly and was discharged. Asher, having finally completed a challenging project, planned a holiday to help her relax. His previous attempts had been marred by Grace's interference and his grandmother's awkwardness. He felt guilty and wanted to strengthen their relationship.

He asked Thalia for her preferences, and she had three or four days free due to pending court cases. She agreed to the trip. Due to Thalia's limited availability, they chose a nearby destination: Annecy, "the Venice of the Alps," nestled beside Lake Annecy in France. Thalia had wanted to visit for two years but had been too busy.

When Drake Ashcroft received a call from his friend James, he'd just finished a meeting.

"James, what's up?" Drake asked, walking toward his office.

"Dude, guess who I just saw?"

"Who?"

James sounded excited. "Take a guess, man."

Drake responded impatiently. "Not in the mood for guessing games. I'm swamped. If it's nothing important, I gotta go."

Previously, Drake and James had shared similar lifestyles—focused on eating, drinking, and entertainment, carelessly spending their family fortunes. After Ashcroft Capital faced a crisis, Drake had become more restrained, seriously focusing on the company and seeking investments. Learning of Thalia's true identity as an heiress only intensified his regret over his past actions. He'd adopted the demeanor of a proper business executive, no longer idle. His contact with James had significantly diminished.

James laughed mockingly. "You'd never guess—I just saw your ex-girlfriend, Thalia Winters."

Drake stopped. He reached his office door but didn't open it.

James paused, then continued: "And her boyfriend, that Blackwood heir. They look super happy together—holding hands while walking."

Drake remained silent. His breathing intensified, his voice becoming tense and hoarse. "Where?"

"In Annecy, France. You know, that cute little town by the lake at the foot of the Alps."

Thalia had arranged their accommodation. The medieval old town (Vieille Ville) of Annecy featured charming boutique accommodations and guesthouses, not large hotels. The guesthouse Thalia booked had an exquisite location with breathtaking views of the snow-capped Alps across Lake Annecy.

It was winter, but Annecy bustled with tourists. On their first day, exhausted from travel, Thalia and Asher stayed in their cozy room watching films. Thalia selected "Atonement," starring James McAvoy and Keira Knightley.

The room was comfortably warm, the lighting soft and dim. Thalia curled against Asher's chest as they watched. Although she knew it was a tragedy, Thalia cried at the ending. Her eyes reddened, her voice choked with emotion. "It's truly heartbreaking, isn't it? Cecilia and Robbie loved each other so deeply, yet they lost years together because of Briony's lie. They never even saw each other again."

Thalia sighed, indignantly adding: "Atonement? How could Briony possibly atone for this? Her sin can never be redeemed. They're both gone—they can never be together again."

Asher gently ran his fingers through her hair. "Perhaps they found each other in another world, my love."

Heavy snow began to fall, transforming Annecy into a winter wonderland. Asher kissed Thalia's forehead. "Look, darling, it's snowing."

Thalia was still immersed in the film. Asher drew her closer, their noses touching. With boundless tenderness, he whispered: "My sweet girl, don't cry anymore. If your eyes are puffy tomorrow, how will you look in our photographs of beautiful Annecy?"

Thalia sniffled, giving him an amused glance that was half exasperation, half adoration. What a peculiar way to comfort someone! Yet his words made practical sense—she did want beautiful memories of their trip. Swollen, red eyes wouldn't photograph well.

Thalia composed herself. Asher gently wiped away the wetness on her cheeks. "Such a good girl deserves a reward, doesn't she?"

He extended his hand, revealing a sweet.

Thalia spoke with a slightly stuffy nose. "You're treating me like a child again."

Asher smiled indulgently. "You are my child—my darling, my precious love."

Thalia took the sweet, unwrapped it, and ate it. It was her favorite peach flavor. Her mood improved considerably.

"Feeling better now, my love?" he asked, his voice slightly husky.

Thalia responded with a soft "Mmm," her eyes meeting his. Asher leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Now that I've cheered up my beautiful girl, perhaps I deserve a little reward of my own?"