At my age, what’s the point of talking about liking someone?

I didn’t respond, nor did I look at him again. Instead, I coldly told him, “The exhibition is closing. You should leave.”

“Grace!” Asher tried to come after me, but Jasmine stopped him.

“Ash, don’t go. My belly hurts.” She clutched her pregnant belly in pain.

Today had been too much for her. Who knew if she’d even be able to keep the baby after all of this? Asher, of course, couldn’t just leave her.

He gave up on chasing me and turned to take care of Jasmine.

Everything had gone almost exactly as I had planned, including their reactions.

And yet, something still felt off.

Even though I had seen their pain and sorrow, I didn’t feel the satisfaction I expected.

Was it because this wasn’t over yet?

9.

After Christopher was taken in, it was clear he wouldn’t be getting out anytime soon. During this period, I fully took control of the company.

The evidence I handed over to the police was enough to get Christopher sentenced for several years.

By the time he gets out, the world will have completely changed.

Without Christopher as her backing, Jasmine couldn’t stir up much trouble.

The child in her belly was now useless, and Christopher wouldn’t even get the chance to see the baby born.

Initially, I planned to sell the company and leave the country, to get away from all of this.

But then, I received a painting from Asher.

He had returned the birthday gift I had given him, exactly as it was.

It was a portrait I had painted of him: he was sitting on a high stool, casually leaning against the bar, turning to look back at me. His gaze was filled with a tenderness and love I had never seen before.

His eyes were full of me.

I had captured that look one day when I opened the studio door, and he just happened to turn and look at me.

That look moved my heart for a long time, and I couldn’t forget it.

If I had known from the beginning that I would fall for him, I never would have used Asher.

But life doesn’t offer do-overs. After what I did to him, there was no chance of anything between us.