Chapter 4
It was during that time that I first met Asher.
We both worked part-time at the same café.
Asher took it all in stride. He never complained or wallowed in self-pity, just kept his head up and worked hard to move on with his life.
We were from the same university, so we gradually grew closer.
We'd work our shifts together at the café, then head back to campus side by side.
One evening after our shift, I waited outside for him, but he never came out. Getting worried, I looked everywhere nearby, afraid something might've happened to him.
Eventually, I found him slumped in a back alley.
He was sitting on the ground, empty beer cans scattered all around, the smell of booze hanging heavy in the air.
"Asher, are you okay?" I asked softly, gently nudging his arm.
"She's gone," Asher murmured.
His words were soft, but the sadness was unmistakable.
I knew exactly who he meant. Hearing that, I honestly didn't know how to feel.
Asher was completely wasted, so I booked him a room nearby and sat beside him, keeping watch until he sobered up.
After that night, we never brought it up again, as if it had never happened.
But I noticed Asher began to reach out to me.
Neither of us ever said it out loud, but we both understood, silently accepting this new bond between us.
I looked down at the simple music box in my hands. It was the very first gift Asher ever gave me, but when Alex took it out, he accidentally dropped it and broke it.
Those first few years, we didn't have much money, and the gifts Asher gave me were simple. But I was truly happy back then.
I was so happy that I never questioned whether he actually liked me or just saw me as a fling.
I stuffed all those things into a cardboard box and taped it shut.
I just put all the jewelry back in its place.
Once Asher's company went public, the gifts started getting fancier and pricier.
Too bad, how much genuine feeling was in these gifts?
After Chloe returned, whenever Asher and I argued, he'd send gifts, probably just to shut me up.
I got fed up with it and told the maids to put them away.
When Asher signed the papers earlier, he probably thought I wanted more jewelry or houses.
*****
The next morning, I came downstairs and found them all laughing and blowing up balloons together, looking like one big happy family.
But as soon as they saw me, the cheerful atmosphere instantly faded.
"Why is Mom here?" Lily muttered under her breath.
But I still heard it.
Chloe reached out and gently patted Lily's head.
She said, "It's your birthday. Of course your mom should be here to celebrate with you."
Lily shook her head and snuggled into Chloe's arms.
"I want you and Dad to celebrate with me, not Mom," Lily insisted.
"Lily!" Asher called out, putting down the balloon and trying to sound stern.
I pretended nothing had happened and headed for the door.
But Asher cut me off, blocking my way.
He looked at me with a disapproving frown.
"It's the kids' birthday. Where are you off to?" he demanded.
"They don't want me around for their birthday anyway," I replied.
"Sophia, why are you upset with the kids?" Asher asked, frustration clear in his voice.
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
"Sophia, you're their family. You should be here for the kids' birthday," Chloe said.
"Oh, so you remember we're family? I thought you'd already been the lady of the house," I shot back.
"Sophia," Chloe murmured, her voice soft and pitiful.
She looked helpless and teary-eyed, glancing at Asher for support, like she'd been startled by me.
"Sophia, why are you making such a fuss? The kids like Chloe, and that's why she's here celebrating with them," Asher snapped.