"Evander, I get it. Being a part of the Langston family is awkward for me. Honestly, the only reason I'm still around is because of them. If my death would bring peace to the Langstons, I'd be willing to go."

"I won't let you die!" Evander exclaimed, panic in his eyes. "If you die, then my life loses all meaning."

Without missing a beat, he grabbed the other paring knife from the table, but Asher quickly snatched it away. "Are you crazy?" Asher barked.

"Asher, you know I've always had feelings for Eve. Ever since my leg was injured, I felt unworthy of her and couldn't muster the courage to confess. I've only been able to watch over her from afar. But now that she wants to be with me, I'm ready to protect her with my life."

Asher, holding the knife, seemed more defeated than ever.

Meanwhile, Lemira stood by, watching the drama unfold with an apple slice in her hand. "Go on, why stop now?" she teased.

"Lemira, do you have any decency? Can you really stand by and let Eve die?" Evander snapped, knocking the fruit plate out of Lemira's hand in frustration.

Lemira responded coolly, "Well, if you want me to drop the matter with Evelina, there's a deal I proposed to Asher, but it seems he hasn't shared it with you."

Both Evander and Evelina turned to Asher, curiosity piqued.

Evander cut to the chase, "Asher, what exactly did Lemira propose?"

Asher's expression faltered, silence taking hold.

Lemira smirked, "Evander, remember how I took the blame for your accident all these years? Asher should clear my name."

She turned to Asher, "Just speak the truth about what happened back then, and I'll drop everything. Isn't that a fair trade?"

Evander stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Asher. "Asher, what's going on?"

Cornered, Asher's frustration

simmered beneath the surface, no match for Lemira's persistence. He hesitated before speaking, "Evander, when you had your accident and needed amputation, I was Q

struggling aren't know what to do You need to understand

sher's

perspective back then!"

Lemira interrupted his rambling, "So, you deliberately ignored the calls, forcing me to decide, right?"

Asher's face turned ashen, and after a tense pause, he quietly admitted, "Yes."

The word barely carried any weight, but Lemira turned to Evander triumphantly, "You heard it. Your leg wasn't lost because of me!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ f͟i͟n͟d͟n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟.net

Evander's face shifted through a palette of emotions, disbelief written all over as he looked at Asher. "Why? My leg could've been saved!"

If Asher had made the decision, maybe things would've been different. Maybe his leg would've been saved.

Asher's expression was pained,

admitting this hurt more than

anything. He glared at Lemira, "I've

done what you asked. Now you

must keep your end and not hold

Eve accountable."

to

"Sure, but she can't meddle in the foundation's affairs anymore," Lemira declared. Her focus had shifted from Evelina.

Evelina, realizing she was off the

hook, let out a relieved smile, "Asher, thank you. I promise not to make the same mistakes again and

embarrass you."

Asher looked remorseful as he addressed Evander, "Asher will make it up to you."

"I want to marry Eve. You can't object," Evander insisted, gripping Evelina's hand, his heart set on this one thing.

Asher's face darkened, "That's the one thing I can't allow!"

"Why? Do you have feelings for Eve too?"