#Completed
Janette's world is shattered the day she walks into her home, fresh from her graduation, only to find out the people who raised her aren't her real parents. Her true identity? The long-lost daughter of wealthy millionaires, Robert and Ju...
Within moments, Asher’s bodyguards surrounded us, and for a second, they seemed more like goons, with Asher as their mafia boss. I hoped that wasn’t true, but with Asher Norman, you could never be sure. He was a mystery to me, and probably to everyone else who crossed paths with him. Maybe if I got into his father and brother’s good graces, I could learn more about him. I was lost in thought until I felt his hand resting possessively on my wrist, guiding me inside as if I were something fragile and precious.
The receptionist greeted Asher with a charming smile, and me with gritted teeth. I hadn’t expected to face discrimination after marrying the hot billionaire, but I forced a fake smile to avoid the embarrassment. She opened a large red door, leading us into the venue. My breath caught at the sight of such extravagance, but that was nothing compared to the realization that everyone’s attention had shifted to me, more than to Asher. I tried to act like I belonged in this world, but my heart was screaming. I wanted to hide my face.
Sensing my discomfort, Asher placed his hand on my back, comforting me. He spotted someone in the crowd and quickly led me toward them, ignoring the stares we were getting. We stopped in front of a man in his mid-fifties—an older version of Asher, with touches of gray in his hair.
Thankfully, we’d escaped the sea of watchful eyes. The man had the same striking blue eyes as Asher, and I could tell he must have been handsome in his youth. But what confused me was the way he looked at me—with warmth and a trace of shock.
“Welcome, son,” he said, hugging Asher before turning to me with a smile that made my heart ache. “Is she my daughter-in-law?” he asked, his voice full of fatherly pride.
“Who else would she be?” Asher smiled, giving me a brief glance.
His father’s gaze lingered on me, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. He pulled me into a hug, radiating the kind of fatherly warmth I hadn’t felt since Mr. Cameron, my foster father. It made me miss him all the more.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day my son brought a girl to a business gala,” he said, clearly surprised. This was new information for me. I glanced at Asher for confirmation, but he pretended not to notice, looking away to avoid my gaze.
Oddly enough, the thought of being his first date here made me happy. I had an impulse to hug him and shower him with kisses, but I resisted. Asher told his father to keep an eye on me while he went to find his brother, leaving a kiss on my cheek before he left.
The moment Asher was gone, the nervousness returned. I instantly missed the warmth of his hand on my back, and now I was alone with his father, unsure of how to start a conversation. An awkward silence settled between us until our eyes met, and I smiled like a fool.
“You resemble your late uncle more than Robert Stark,” Roswell Norman said, finally breaking the silence. I smiled politely, though my heart skipped a beat. Robert Stark? Of course, everyone knew that name. Maybe Eric was right—I was Stark’s sister after all. I bit my lip and nodded.
“I never knew him,” I said quietly, offering a sad smile. He returned it, his eyes softening.
“He was my best friend,” Roswell said with a hint of sadness in his voice. The depth of his emotion told me he still missed his friend deeply. I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to console him.
Roswell shook his head. “How is Eric doing?” he asked, not mentioning Robert or the Stark family, just Eric. Did that mean he recognized me as a Stark? My heart raced with the thought that he might reveal the truth to Asher. The consequences could be disastrous.
“He’s fine,” I replied, keeping my answers short. I didn’t want to give him any more reason to suspect me.
I grew more anxious with each passing second, wondering where Asher had gone. Roswell noticed my discomfort. “Don’t worry, child. I won’t reveal your secret to your husband. Let him figure it out on his own.”
A shiver ran down my spine at his words. How does he know? I stammered, “H-How d-do you—”
“I grew up with Roger Stark,” he said quietly. “Did you think I wouldn’t recognize his blood?”
I didn’t know how to respond. He knew me better than I knew myself, and it made me want to break down and cry, but I held it together.
He rested his hand on my head, a fatherly gesture that made my chest tighten. “I know you’ve been through a lot, child. If you ever want to share your story, my door is always open.” I nodded and smiled weakly.
“How’s my son treating you?” he asked, and I couldn’t help but think of all the moments I’d shared with Asher since we got married.
“We’re making progress,” I said truthfully. Our relationship had definitely improved.
Roswell was about to say something else when I saw Asher walking toward us. I had never been so relieved to see him.
“Mind if I steal my wife for a minute, Dad?” Asher asked, glancing at me.
Roswell smiled and raised his wine glass to Asher. “Take care of her, son.”
Asher took my hand and led me toward the dance floor. “So, what were you two talking about?” he asked, placing my hand on his shoulder.
“Just politics,” I lied, hoping to avoid any further questioning.
He let out a disbelieving laugh. “Politics? Really?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
His hand slid to the exposed skin on my back, making me shiver. “Liar. Dad hates politics,” he teased, his minty breath tickling my face. Without warning, he kissed me. This time, I wasn’t shocked—I kissed him back, matching his passion. Applause erupted around us, making me realize we were in the spotlight.
“A round of applause for my brother and sister-in-law!” a voice called out from the stage. I looked up to see a young man, handsome and in his early twenties, standing under the lights.
He had the same striking features as Asher, and I knew immediately this was his younger brother. The resemblance between the three men was uncanny.
Good looks definitely run in the family, I thought to myself, unable to disagree.
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I tried to write this story in the first person, how is it feel free to comment.
Don't be a silent reader, I am friendly and will love her critical comments too.
