Emma, a quiet, timid girl, had hidden behind Gabriella in fear.
When Davenport saw Gabriella, he decided she was prettier than Emma. He blocked their path, demanding Gabriella’s number and making increasingly vulgar suggestions. Despite the crowds of students passing by, not one stepped forward to help.
Gabriella hadn’t learned self–defense yet and was terrified herself. In desperation, she’d bluffed about having a brother in a gang who would make Davenport regret bothering her.
She’d actually called Asher then.
“Remember how you said you’d break the legs of anyone who bothered me? Well, someone is… You need to come quickly.”
“There’s too many of them for two schoolgirls to handle.”
“Where? Oh, at Westminster School.”
After hanging up, she’d tried intimidating Davenport with increasingly elaborate tales.
“Listen, my brother has over a hundred men under him – all trained fighters, way tougher than your little followers. They’ve never lost a fight. Don’t you dare come closer! Touch one hair on my head and my brother will destroy you!”
Davenport had swaggered closer. “Oh yeah? Call this brother then. Let’s see if he’s really as tough as you
say.”
“You-” Gabriella had puffed up her cheeks in anger, glaring at him. “You’re the one who’s all talk!”
Asher was at university twenty miles away – even if he left immediately after her call, he couldn’t possibly
arrive in time.
Gabriella hadn’t actually expected him to come rescue her. The call was just meant to scare Davenport.
But within minutes of her call, the Deputy Head and House Master arrived hurriedly, escorting
Davenport and his group away.
Emma later told Gabriella that Davenport never returned to school after that day. This incident prompted Gabriella to start learning self defense.
Sipping her wine at the memory, she turned to Asher. “Did you call the school administrators that day?”
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His dark eyes revealed nothing. “Yes.”
“And did you go after Davenport later?”
Alex leaned forward eagerly. “Did he ever! You should have seen it. Nearly killed the bastard – though he
deserved it for what he said. I was there.”
Alex recalled that day vividly. He and Asher had been playing basketball when Gabriella’s call came.
“Asher just dropped everything and left. I followed him and we drove across London to find Davenport.”
“The idiot had no idea who Asher was. Started bragging about Gabriella: “That girl’s exactly my type, such
soft skin, such a slim waist, can’t wait to get her in bed-‘ Didn’t finish that sentence.”
The rest came out in screams as Asher attacked like a lion, targeting vulnerable points with terrifying precision. Davenport tried fighting back but was completely overwhelmed.
“Eventually his screams got weaker and he just lay there,” Alex shuddered. “I couldn’t stop Asher – nearly got caught in it myself. His knuckles were covered in blood, face splattered with it. Looked like something
out of a horror film. Davenport spent months in hospital.”
“He was expelled afterward. His family’s business collapsed – some convenient audits appeared. They left London entirely.”
“Asher spent time in the cells for it. His grandfather was furious, ordered him held for a few days. But his grandmother kept crying to the old man until he relented. The Blackwoods paid an enormous settlement, and Asher took quite a beating from his grandfather over it.”
Alex gave Gabriella a knowing look. “You know, I was blind back then. I thought he was just being a
protective older brother. Only recently did I realize Asher had his eye on you all along.”
Gabriella’s fingers whitened around her wine glass as the full weight of the story hit her. She’d never
known he’d nearly killed someone for her.
A wave of fear washed over her not for herself, but for him.
–
Asher had always been perfect: the model son, the exemplary student, the untouchable heir that others
could only admire from afar. His future had been boundless. The thought that he could have thrown it all away, could have become a murderer because of her… she would never have forgiven herself.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she blinked back tears, her throat tight with emotion.
It was past midnight when they reached Kensington.
The night air was crisp, the moon casting cold light as Gabriella walked ahead silently.
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Asher followed her into the building. “Gabby, please don’t be angry.”
She remained quiet.
As she tried to close her apartment door, Asher slipped inside, his expression pained. “Are you afraid of
me now?”
He rushed to explain: “Please don’t be. I’m not violent by nature, I’d never hurt you. That day, I just… his words about you, I couldn’t bear hearing someone speak of you that way…”
Gabriella looked up at him with a sigh. “I’m not afraid of you, Asher. I’m worried about you…”
He pulled her gently into his arms. “It’s over now. All in the past.”
Against his chest, her voice caught. “Don’t be so reckless again. If you’d killed him, your life would have
been ruined… It’s not worth it, not for me…”
“But I didn’t kill him,” he said softly.
She hit his chest in frustration. “That’s not funny!“.
His warm hands stroked her back soothingly. “Alright, alright. I promise to be more careful.”
“How long were you in jail?” she asked, voice muffled.
“Not long.”
Her voice trembled. “Was it awful? I’ve heard they only serve porridge and bread. You must have hated
it.”
Asher chuckled. “I did. Counted it as a diet.”
Despite herself, she laughed through her tears, hitting him again. “You’re not even fat! Are you trying to
upset me?”
“Let’s not talk about it anymore, hmm?”
She looked up at him, eyes red. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to feel responsible. It was my choice, not your fault.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Asher cradled her face, thumbs wiping away her tears. “Don’t cry. It breaks my heart so.”
He leaned down, kissing away her tears with gentle lips.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.