Chapter 103 NOT SO FAKE ANYMORE.

Chapter 103 NOT SO FAKE ANYMORE.


Asher 

“The feeling is not mutual anyway.” I said, pulling my shirt back up. Irina returned to her seat. 

“Are you sure?” She asked, her brow arched up slightly. “He doesn't seem like he…” I cut her short before she could finish.

“He just doesn't want me interfering in his matters. He doesn't actually care.” I said before she could finish. Irina looked like she wanted to continue but she didn't. 

“Okay.” She muttered at the end. “Take care of your injuries.” She said, and I waved her goodbye. 

The room suddenly fell silent again, I could hear the noise that came from below, the sound of the cooking and the guard's drills. I rose to my feet, and went to stand by the window side. 

The breeze blew my hair onto my face as I took in a deep breath. 

It had been so long since I've heard a normal conversation with him. I knew he didn't love me but I still couldn't help thinking about him. I rested my arm on the windowsill, my head on my arm as I let the wind blow fiercely against my face. 

I missed his company. 

“Mrs. Petrova wants you down for dinner.” The voice of a maid came from outside the room, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

I raised my head from my arm, turning towards the door. “Okay, I'll be there.” I said as I removed my arm from the windowsill. I had stayed there for so long it was already evening.

I changed my clothes before going to dinner and from a distance, I could already see Gregori at the table. 

He looked brighter, like the blast didn't have much effect on him. 

“You're here.” My mother smiled as soon as she saw me moving closer, she pulled out the seat close to her and tapped on it lightly, signifying for me to sit there. 

Gregori sat across from me, a frown on his face as soon as he saw me sit. He seemed to give me a warning with his eyes and I understood what he meant immediately. He still remembered that I was with Nathaniel at the party. 

“Have you taken care of your injuries?” My mother asked Gregori, taking his attention. 

“It was not really something big.” Gregori said and my mother nodded. 

She passed a bowl of food to my side. “Try this. I find it delicious.” She said, and I nodded as I lowered my head to take a bite. 

Gregori's voice came from above me. “It's the same association that was behind the attack.” He paused, and I could feel the hairs on my skin raising. 

I looked up to catch his gaze hard on me and I looked back down. 

“Dima said you knew about it but it seems you didn't take the right precautions.” Gregori said, his eyes still on me.

I raised my head up but didn't answer him, pretending my mouth was too full. 

“That was a really dangerous move to make.” Gregori said, glaring at me. I could understand why he was pissed. 

After all, he probably wouldn't have gotten injured if I had told him about my plans. My mother soon spoke up, taking Gregori’s attention off me. 

“Do you know anything about the organization?” She asked, and Gregori shook his head negatively.

“It's too secretive. The men I sent to investigate still have nothing on them.” Gregori said, and my mother nodded. 

“Okay. We'll just have to go out with more guards now.” She said, trying to focus her attention back on the food but Gregori's slightly pitched voice didn't let her. 

“No. It's better we don't go out at all. Especially Asher.” He said, and I could feel his gaze on me again. 

“Their target is the heirs and those that hold power. Until they are rooted out, it's preferable to keep a low profile.” Gregori said and my mother nodded. 

“You have a point.” 

Gregori finally returned his attention to the food after receiving affirmation from my mother. I breathed out a sigh of relief when he finally stopped talking. 

I left the dinner early, trying my best to avoid a one-on-one conversation with him. I didn't want him asking about why I was with Nathaniel at the party but he didn't seem to be letting me off the hook as I heard a knock on the door a few minutes after I left the table.

“Who is it?” I asked, and Dima's voice came from outside. I breathed a sigh of relief and let him in. 

“Did you make any discoveries?” I asked as he walked deeper into the room.

“Yes.” Dima said and placed a set of pictures on my desk. I didn't recognize the faces but I recognized the little boy in one of the pictures, his eyes were like Nathaniel’s.

“On the Syndicate’s list was Nathaniel’s parents and they killed them brutally when he was just a child.” 

My heart sank to my stomach. Was this the reason he didn't want me involved in this?

“Nathaniel had been investigating his parent's death for years and he finally had some leads on the Syndicate. That's how he discovered that Ivan was working with them.” Dima said.

I titled the picture in my hand. The little boy in the picture had a smile on his face, the smile that had always been rare on Nathaniel's face since I had met him. 

“His parent's deaths were cruel, more brutal than the others that the Syndicate had attacked.”

“He has a personal feud with them.” I muttered. How did I not know? Nathaniel wasn't one to act for the greater good. Why else would he be so interested in hunting down the Syndicate? 

“He is seeking revenge.” Dima finished and I waved him off. 

It suddenly made sense why he didn't want me involved in it. He even went as far as to beg me. Nathaniel’s face flashed before my eyes, his concern suddenly didn't seem so fake anymore. 

He had just wanted to protect me.