Chapter 97: You're Kelvin's Protégé? (Part 1)

"Thank God nothing serious happened between us. Maybe divorce is a mutual release, a silver lining."

The Morgan clan was already in turmoil, and Asher could almost predict that his true identity would eventually become known to the Parker family. From that day forward, as long as he remained with the Morgans and the Parkers didn't fall, there would be no peace for the Morgans.

"Who said anything about divorce? And did I agree to marry you yet?" Stella Turner rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"But now we..."

"What but? Don't be a fool. Stop overthinking things, stop feeling like you owe me anything. I don't blame you for what happened today, I played my part too. Let go of any guilt, okay?" Stella's tone softened, a rare occurrence.

" I'm serious. I want to marry you," Asher stated earnestly.

"Your intention is what counts. Remember what you promised," Stella said with a bright, yet slightly bitter smile.

"I..." Asher looked at her, opened his mouth to speak several times, but found no words.

Seeing Asher speechless and staring blankly at her, Stella smiled gently once more, though her smile carried a touch of melancholy: "Do you really like me?"

"Yes," Asher nodded firmly, his gaze locking onto hers, earnestness clear in his eyes. No one understood better than he did, the depth of his feelings for Stella. Their time together had been short, but in his heart, Asher was certain of this indescribable sentiment.

To outsiders, it might look like he was simply fickle, but he was genuinely attracted to her. However, the complication of his current marriage kept those feelings deeply hidden, at least until everything changed that night.

To be precise, Stella Turner was now his woman, the only one he had truly embraced, and that's precisely why he had resolved to marry her.

"Then tell me, would it be okay to spend a lifetime with you?" Stella said, visibly delighted by Asher's response. After a brief hesitation, she took a deep breath and dared to voice her feelings.

After finishing her declaration, her captivating eyes fixated on Asher’s face, scanning for the tiniest shift in his expression. Anticipation coupled with an indescribable tension colored her demeanor. Even the hands cradling Asher's cheeks trembled slightly, beyond her control.

In essence, she was propositioning to be Asher's mistress.

In the past, if anyone dared to utter such a proposal to her, he would have been greeted with a slap the very next second. She couldn't possibly accept such an arrangement.

But now, the thought of rejecting Asher and potentially losing the man who swore to marry her, to care for and shelter her for a lifetime, filled her with dread. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

"What... what do you mean?" Asher, startled by Stella Turner's tense expression, was momentarily bewildered.

"I belong to you now, and I won't ever marry. I’m prepared to have you take care of me for life. Are you willing?" Stella asked again, her voice quivering with what seemed like fear.

"Of course I am willing, but..." Asher’s confusion dissipated as he understood Stella's words. Before he could finish, she covered his mouth and whispered soothingly, "No buts. Isn’t this arrangement good? To the outside world, I remain Miss Turner, and you’re my CEO. Privately, when you miss me, you can see me. I’m willing to be your mistress. Good deal, right?"

"Not good," Asher flatly rejected her offer. "I don't want you to settle for less. I still want to marry you."

"Then wait for another lifetime because I won't marry you in this one. And if you divorce Avery on a whim, I still won’t marry you." Stella spoke with grave sincerity, clear-eyed about Asher's affection for Avery—even if their marriage lacked real intimacy.

Garrett once said a profound adage: It's better to let others be indebted to me than to bear the weight of owing someone else.

But Stella's viewpoint as a woman was utterly different. Instead of feeling indebted to someone for a lifetime, she preferred they owe her.

And because of that faint, lingering guilt, Asher became even more protective of her.

"So you mean..."

"That's settled then. In public, I'm still Miss Turner, and in private, we are lovers. Be good now, listen to me," Stella cut him off, her nervousness dissipated, replaced by an indescribable sense of happiness and contentment.

Watching Stella’s radiant smile, Asher opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.

Asher had some insight into Stella Turner's personality. Despite her often casual demeanor, she was indeed a woman of strong conviction, and once she set her mind on something, it was near impossible to sway her.

"What's on your mind?" Stella asked, noticing Asher staring at her in silence.

"I'm just thinking... if I can truly make you happy, I..." Asher faltered, his words teetering on the edge of expression.

"What's wrong?" Stella's face was a picture of puzzled concern.

Asher glanced at her, his face a clash of embarrassment and shame. "Do I... do I have a problem physically?"

Typically, this kind of thing would take a solid fifteen minutes, at least. With his self-proclaimed stellar condition, he figured he'd last at least a quarter hour. But just now...

Stella could no longer hold back a laugh, seeing Asher's face twist in pain and shame. She burst out laughing, her whole body shaking with mirth.

"You might want to look some things up for yourself," Stella managed to say through her laughter, her puzzled but joyous expression softening. She held out her hand to him. "Before that though, could you carry me down to the shower? I really need a good wash."

"Oh, sure." Asher quickly got to his feet, hurriedly wrapped Stella in a blanket and picked her up and into his arms from the bed where she laid in a languid pose.

Cradled in Asher's hold, Stella looked content, with a hint of amusement twinkling in her eyes. "I'm all yours now, why be shy?"

"I just don't want you to catch a cold," Asher replied, his voice tinged with awkwardness.

Stella simply rolled her eyes at him without saying a word.

Part of Asher's concern was Stella catching a cold, but a greater fear was his own self-control. Women, he reasoned, were like an addictive poison – once you've had a taste, it becomes terribly challenging to let go.

But he had urgent matters to attend to and didn't want to waste more time. He just hoped that due to the unique nature of the place, the flower market wouldn't close too early.

By 9:30 in the evening, a young couple emerged arm in arm at the entrance of the flower market.

Stella was dressed in a sleek black dress, stockings outlining her long legs, making them appear even more slender and elegantly curved.

Asher had laid down the rule – she was not to expose her bare legs to others, opting for pants or stockings instead.

Stella found it both amusing and infuriating, but when it came down to picking her outfit, she went with the stockings.

Asher had never been with a woman or even dated before meeting Stella. And now, everything was a first with her.

Watching the joy radiate from the woman by his side, Asher felt the sweet tug of love for the first time. Stella Turner's usual flamboyance and defiance were gone, replaced by a gentleness as she clung to his arm like a love-struck sweetheart.

Asher thought to himself that even if he were to pass away tomorrow, it would all have been worth it.

Just as Asher had predicted, the flower market was open and bustling with activity.

Once inside the greenhouse, they found a moderate crowd, mostly tourists easily identified by their distinct accents.

With modern technology able to control temperature and soil conditions, flowers from the north could thrive in the south, and vice versa. Buying flowers from here was more than a souvenir; they were a living memento of a journey, a story to share with friends about travels and local treasures.

"Look at this one, wow, it's gorgeous…"

"This one is stunning, Asher, let's get it…"

Inside the greenhouse, Stella Turner flitted from stall to stall like a butterfly among the blossoms, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Meanwhile, Asher was the one opening his wallet.

Today, he felt like a true man, cherishing the first woman he had ever loved. Watching her brimming with happiness, a resigned but content smile spread across his face, his heart felt an unusual sense of peace.

Originally, he had come to purchase ingredients to craft the Spirit Elixir, but Stella had stumbled upon this entertaining detour. In a way, it was perfect; the more diverse the plants they bought, the less likely anyone would guess which ones were the actual components for the elixir.

"No more, our car can't fit anything else. Besides, many of these plants are not easy to maintain," Asher cautioned.

He recalled that Stella's home was almost devoid of plants, save for a couple of cacti. He didn't stop her shopping spree, knowing that the flowers, mostly inexpensive, would make for great decor.

Deep down, he doubted the carefree Stella could manage the more delicate plants.