Chapter 79

Asher gently placed Thalia on the bed. "Rest, darling. I'll see who it is."

He opened the door, his brow furrowing instantly. Drake stood in the hallway. Asher had nearly forgotten Drake was also staying in Annecy. How terribly inconvenient. Asher had just emerged from the shower, wearing only a bath towel. The love bites on his neck and collarbone were unmistakable.

The sight caused Drake's forehead veins to pulse visibly. His breath hitched, his face paling, his eyes blazing with a dangerous storm. "What the hell did you do to her!" Drake's fists clenched, the veins on his hands bulging.

Asher gave a soft, derisive laugh. "We're together. What do you imagine couples do?"

This was the final straw. Drake felt his rage solidify in his chest, as if his blood had frozen. His head throbbed mercilessly. He had tortured himself with the thought of Thalia and Asher sleeping together, but those were merely imaginings. Now, confronted with the reality, seeing the intimate marks on Asher's body, Drake felt the world go black for a moment.

A sharp ringing filled his ears, accompanied by agonizing chest pain. He swayed. Then, he charged forward like a crazed beast, his eyes bulging, bloodshot, and murderous.

Asher stepped back, pivoting to avoid Drake's attack, then landed a fist to Drake's face, followed by a vicious kick. Sharp pain exploded across Drake's face, his mind buzzing. He staggered back, his body slamming against the corridor wall.

"Hah," Asher said, contempt flashing in his eyes. "Drake, I gave you your chance. Three years ago, when Thalia was with you, I convinced myself that as long as she was happy, I would step aside. But what did you do? How did you treat her?"

Drake felt an invisible hand mercilessly squeezing his heart, crushing it until he could barely breathe. Asher gave him no time to recover, continuing: "Drake, what right do you have to question me?"

The question was devastating. Drake momentarily lost his bearings. Indeed, what right did he have? He had destroyed his relationship with Thalia. He had pushed her into another man's arms!

Asher looked at Drake with utter contempt, as if regarding a stray dog. This was the type of man he despised most—those who failed to cherish what they had, only to feign affection after losing it. Belated sincerity was worthless. Who was he performing for?

After a brief silence, the confusion vanished from Drake's face. He twisted his lips into a smile, the blood at the corner of his mouth making him appear unhinged and obsessive.

"Of course I have the right, because I love her!" Drake's voice cracked. "No one could possibly love her more than I do!"

Asher laughed bitterly, raising an eyebrow. "Love her? Bloody hell. Even a dog would shake its head at your version of love."

Drake was about to reply when Thalia's voice, filled with shock and fury, came from behind Asher. "Drake, what on earth are you doing here?" She glared at him fiercely.

Drake looked at Thalia. He noticed the flush on her face, the lingering passion in her eyes, and the love bite on her neck. In that moment, Drake understood heart-wrenching pain. If moments ago, he'd clung to a shred of hope, believing Asher's account a lie, now, seeing the marks on Thalia and the look in her eyes, he was on the verge of madness. He sensed the intimate atmosphere. They had been together.

This realization brought Drake to the brink of collapse. It felt as though someone had carved out a piece of his heart, leaving it bleeding profusely.

"Thalia," Drake's voice was hoarse, carrying an unmistakable sob. "Please, don't do this to me. How could you…"

He couldn't bring himself to say the words "sleep with another man." The thought made his heart ache unbearably.

Only now did Drake understand the depth of his obsession and possessiveness. In his life, he had never experienced such despair and devastation. A tear slid from his eye. He felt he might shatter.

The winter draft carried a bitter chill. Drake stood in the cold, gazing at Thalia with anguish, as if he might vanish with the wind.

Thalia's jaw tightened. Her face was cold, the fury in her eyes unmistakable. "Drake, we ended things amicably. I preserved your dignity. If you continue to harass me, don't expect me to remain civil!"

Tears glistened in Drake's eyes, the place where Asher had struck him bruised and red. "No," Drake's voice was raspy. "Thalia, I was wrong. So wrong. Please, just come back… I'm begging you, Thalia…"

He had humbled himself. He no longer cared about pride or dignity, begging Thalia, crying like a child.

Seeing him, Thalia sighed helplessly. She rubbed her temples, saying wearily: "Drake, what's the point? I'm exhausted. Just let me go."

Drake's eyes were bloodshot, his voice choked: "I'm sorry, Thalia, but I can't do that."

Thalia frowned slightly but said nothing, giving him a cold glance as she prepared to close the door.

Drake panicked and thrust his hand forward, blocking the door. His hand was caught. Thalia, unsurprisingly, closed the door with some force. Drake sucked in a sharp breath of pain.

Surprise crossed Thalia's eyes, but she quickly resumed her cold demeanor. "Drake, just leave." She attempted to close the door again.

Asher reached out and pushed Drake away, preventing him from jamming his hand in the door again. The door closed. The corridor fell silent.

Outside the door, Drake closed his eyes in agony. Tears fell silently. This night was a terrible nightmare. It would become the demon haunting his dreams.

He stood there a very long time, long enough for the lights in the room to be extinguished, long enough for the evening to grow quiet. He dragged his numb body, moving like a walking corpse, to the elevator. He pressed the button, descended.

Tonight was bitterly cold. Outside, snow and wind raged. Drake, having worn only a thin shirt, trudged silently through the snowstorm, head bowed, without direction, without destination. It felt as though a massive hole had opened in his heart, through which the cold wind howled mercilessly. Even the biting cold couldn't compare to the chill in his heart. He felt all the snow in the world was falling upon his heart.

Chapter 80