Chapter 69
Chapter 69
“Brother, I want to be in the photo too,” Grace called out, suddenly suppressing the jealousy in her eyes and using an artificially sweet tone. She walked over and wedged herself between Thalia and Asher.
Victoria let out an exaggerated gasp.
Sebastian turned to her with concern. “Victoria, what’s wrong?”
Victoria replied with mock seriousness: “Good Lord, what an enormous third wheel! I’m practically
blinded by it.”
Despite hearing Victoria’s comment, Grace remained firmly planted between Thalia and Asher, her skin evidently thick enough to withstand the barb.
Seeing that Grace had no intention of moving. Victoria leisurely folded her selfie stick and turned to Grace with a patently false smile. “So sorry, Grace, but we’ve finished taking photos. If you want a group shot, why not take one with Drake and your little friends?”
Grace restrained her impulse to lash out, instead forcing a smile as she linked her arm through Asher’s. “Then I’ll just take a few photos alone with my brother.”
Thalia lowered her lashes, her gaze falling on Grace’s hand.
Asher extracted his arm, giving Grace a cold look. “Aren’t you a bit old to be clinging to your brother? Perhaps it’s time you found yourself a boyfriend.”
Even with Grace’s impressive ability to maintain appearances, she couldn’t hide her dismay at Asher’s suggestion that she find a boyfriend. Her carefully constructed expression showed cracks, and her eyes revealed genuine hurt.
“Brother, why can’t I be close to you now that I’m grown? You used to dote on me so much.”
Asher’s manner remained cold and distant. “That was then, this is now. Grace, you need to understand
boundaries.”
Grace’s recent behavior had made her intentions painfully clear to Asher. Only because she was his sister had he spared her the embarrassment of exposing her true feelings publicly,
He’d also noticed Grace’s hostility and jealousy toward Thalia. Since Thalia disliked Grace, it was his duty as Thalia’s partner to make his position clear and provide her with security.
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Chapter 69
Asher’s words stunned Grace. “Brother, we’re siblings–what boundaries could possibly be needed?”
Victoria made a disapproving sound. “You’re really playing the ‘Blackwood sister‘ card, aren’t you? What boundaries would be needed between an unrelated adult man and woman? I wonder.”
Grace’s eyes welled with tears as she looked up at Asher pitifully.
Asher remained unmoved, his tone indifferent. “Victoria is right. Though we are siblings, we have no
blood relation. You shouldn’t behave in ways that might cause misunderstandings.”
As Grace attempted to say more, Asher sidestepped her and took Thalia’s hand. His dark eyes were deep and concerned. “Lia, we’ve finished with the photos. Shall we continue?”
Thalia curved her lips into a smile, her glance toward Grace filled with triumphant challenge. “Sister, if you want to take photos, stay and take your time. My fiancé and I will go ahead.”
Inwardly, Thalia mocked Grace. Perfect performance–you’ve truly mastered the art of playing the
damsel in distress. The title of “pick–me queen” belongs to no one but you. Unfortunately for you, your
brother has an excellent pick–me radar.
After sunset, the temperature dropped rapidly. The stream brought a distinct chill to the air, and the
increasing humidity made everything feel considerably colder.
Asher pulled a thick jacket from his backpack. “Lia, put this on.”
Grace, having no outdoor experience, was unaware of the significant temperature differences between day and night in the mountains. Now she stood shivering in her lightweight hiking clothes.
Seeing Asher give Thalia his jacket, jealousy burned within her.
Thalia had just put on the jacket and walked a short distance when she heard someone cry out behind
them.
She instinctively turned around, but the winding mountain path and surrounding trees obscured her
view of what had happened.
A moment later, Eliza, one of Grace’s friends, came running up to them, calling out urgently: “Asher,
Grace has twisted her ankle!”
Asher frowned but asked: “Is it serious?”
Eliza’s anxiety appeared genuine. “It looks quite bad. She can’t walk. Please come and see.”
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The mountain path was rugged, and it was easy enough to slip or twist an ankle if one wasn’t careful. Thalia’s first instinct wasn’t to suspect anything–after all, Grace was Asher’s sister, and if she was injured, they should check on her.
“Let’s see what’s happened,” Thalia said to Asher.
“Alright.”
Asher and Thalia followed Eliza back along the path a short distance. They found Grace sitting on a rock at the side of the path, biting her lip and emitting pained whimpers..
“What happened?” Asher asked.
Grace looked up with tear–filled eyes. “I stepped on a small stone and slipped. I took a tumble and hurt my ankle. It’s terribly painful.”
Thalia glanced down at Grace’s injury. Her knee was smudged with dirt, and her ankle was scraped with some blood seeping through–she was genuinely injured.
Asher asked, “Can you still walk?”
“I can’t.”
As she spoke, tears suddenly streamed down her face. “It’s fine, brother. Don’t worry about me. We’re almost at the summit–you should go ahead and watch the meteor shower. I don’t want to ruin your
evening.”
Asher nodded. “I’ll find someone to take you back down.”
Grace froze, her expression momentarily losing its carefully maintained control before she quickly readjusted and continued her tearful performance. “Brother, I… I really wanted to see the meteor shower too. Please don’t send me back down now–I’d hate to miss it completely.”
Grace’s earlier cry had been loud enough that Victoria and Sebastian, who had been walking ahead, had heard it. Victoria had come back and arrived just in time to hear Grace’s last statement.
Victoria glanced at Grace’s injury and twisted her mouth slightly. Well, well, she thought, playing the injured damsel now, are we?
Sure enough, the next moment, Grace looked up with a pitiful expression. “Brother, could you carry me up the mountain? We’re not far from the summit, and I’m not heavy.”
Thalia and Victoria exchanged glances, then simultaneously looked toward Asher.
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It was true–they were only about a hundred metres from the viewing platform at the summit, not far at
all.
Grace’s request seemed reasonable on the surface.
But Thalia and Victoria knew it wasn’t that simple.
Grace’s motives were far from pure.
Thalia remained silent, waiting for Asher’s response.
Asher looked around briefly, then down at the ground.
Grace, not understanding what he was looking for, asked with confusion, “Brother, what is it?”
Asher’s voice was cool and detached. “If you’re so keen to see the meteor shower, you can sit right here and watch. The view is quite good from this spot. It’s not as perfect as the summit platform, but certainly adequate for seeing the meteors.”
“What?” Grace clearly hadn’t expected this response.
She bit her lip, her face appearing even paler in the dim light. “Brother, I don’t want to stay here alone. If
everyone else is at the viewing platform, I’ll be frightened by myself.”
Asher remained unmoved, maintaining his cold, distant demeanor. “Don’t you have two friends with you? They can keep you company. I’ll have someone bring you food shortly, and after the meteor shower, I’ll arrange for someone to take you back down. You shouldn’t spend the night on the mountain.”
Hearing this, Victoria shot Thalia a meaningful look.
Her expression seemed to say: Your man certainly knows how to handle these situations.
Grace couldn’t accept this outcome.
Crying, she said, “Brother, why won’t you carry me to the viewing platform? Are you afraid Thalia will be upset? Is she really that petty? I’m your sister–is she really jealous of even that?”
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