In the past, Arnold was a yful and dissolute man. He lived a carefree and hedonistic life and only cared about living in the moment. But now, this wandering soul of his yearned to settle down permanently with Asher.


    However, M insisted on digging up his past, reminding him of the pain and forcing him to wake up to reality.


    "Aunt M, I..."


    "Arnold, your father and elder brother overlooked how you''ve yed around abroad. I''m an outsider since I married into the Thompson family, and I have no say in how to control you either." M furrowed her brows and said in a low and stern voice, "But Asher is the pir of the Thompson family, the eldest son that Wyatt has high hopes for. You cannot have any ideas about him!"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Arnold felt a sharp ache in his heart. He took a step back.


    "I''ve watched you grow up. In the past, when your father was too busy to look after you, I stepped in to apany you in your studies and hobbies. I understand you far better than anyone else in the Larson family."


    M sat weakly on the sofa, feeling a burning sensation in her chest. "I can read every move that you make like a book. I''ve had my suspicions about your feelings for Asher for a while now, but I wasn''tpletely sure and kept observing you in secret. It wasn''t until I found this evidence. Only today, when I noticed your interactions, were my suspicions confirmed. The thing I feared most has finally happened." She continued, "Arnold, Asher is different from those men you fool around with. You cannot get involved with him. If you ruin him, the Thompson family will be finished. Wyatt will be so furious that he''ll suffer another stroke!"


    Arnold couldn''t hold back his emotions any longer. His eyes turned red as he shouted, "Why does he have to know? Won''t it be better if we keep it a secret?"


    M was deeply shocked. "What did you say?"


    "Asher... Asher likes me too. And I like him very much."


    Arnold clenched his fists tightly, tears welling up in his eyes, but suddenly he smiled brightly.


    "No, I don''t just like, I love him. Aunt M, I love Asher. I love him so much. No matter what, I will never leave him!"


    M''s vision went dark. Her heart was set on protecting the Thompson family. For the sake of the Thompson family''s interests, she was determined to stop any potential threats to their family. This included a romantic rtionship between Arnold and Asher that the high society of Hatchbay and Savrow could not ept.


    The Thompson family was a powerful force in the business world, a respected and prestigious family. The price of such honor and power was the loneliness that came with them.


    Asher was the CEO of KS Group, the


    ???


    elke


    pir of the family. If someone with bad intentions took advantage of this vulnerability and caused trouble, the consequences would be disastrous. The Thompson family and the KS Group would be deeply affected by it.


    M''s mind raced with countless thoughts. After a short silence, she calmed down and spoke coldly, "It''s true that you like Asher, but does Asher truly like you?"


    "Why wouldn''t he? He''s just not good at expressing himself!"


    "Is Asher really not good at expressing himself? From what I know, he''s not a man of few words. He just can''t be bothered with small talk. He''s merely being polite to you because you''re my nephew, so he can'' outright reject you."


    M leaned back and sneered. "Even if he''s momentarily captivated by you, so what? You might be ready to abandon your family and career for him, but he''d never sacrifice his


    reputation for you and drag


    Group into a storm of public scrutiny


    for you."


    She continued, "Also, Asher is amitted Christian. Even if he were not the CEO, he would be a pastor. Are you trying to lead him away from his faith and condemn him to hell? If you truly love him, don''t destroy him."


    Arnold felt a chill spread through his entire body, as if pierced by countless arrows. His warm blood gushed from his bleeding heart.


    "It''s impossible for the both of you. You''re not children anymore, and you''ve had many rtionships to know better. Be more realistic."


    M''s expression was cold as she


    continued to deliver another


    crushing blow. "You''ve been living here and doing so much for the Thompson family. Your dad and older brother have no idea, right? If you continue to ignore my advice, I will have to tell them everything. The Larson family despises anyone getting too close to the Thompson family. You know very well what will happen then."


    When Arnold walked out of the room, he seemed like a walking corpse. He panted heavily as he leaned against the cold wall. He stood there for a long time before regaining some strength to slowly move forward, step by step.


    However, just behind him, Asher hid himself in the dim shadows at the corner of the staircase. He watched Arnold''s tall, beautiful, yet utterly defeated figure walk away.


    Asher''s eyes were half-closed, and his heart was filled with suppressed emotions as he clenched his hand tightly at his side.