Chapter 21
Whispers immediately erupted around them: “Who is that? Nobody knows him!”
“Is that the ex–boyfriend causing trouble? But he looks so heartbroken…”
Riley’s mother’s face darkened as she pulled her husband: “What are you waiting for? Go call security!”
Asher ignored everything, as if he couldn’t hear. He opened his palm, holding out Riley’s ring: “Riley, I found the ring you
hrew away… Don’t be angry anymore. Come home with me, please?”
Riley’s eyes held no love, no hatred–just an unnerving calmness.
“I’m not going back with you, Asher. I’m getting engaged to my boyfriend.”
“You found a boyfriend without my permission?!”
Riley wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but she thought she saw a hint of hurt in Asher’s eyes.
He reached out to grab her: “Riley, I was wrong, truly wrong! I shouldn’t have believed others over you! I can make up for all my mistakes, but please don’t punish me like this! Come home with me, please? I’m begging you.”
“Begging?”
Riley laughed coldly, shaking off his hand.
How noble was Asher Blackwell? An outsider might think she was the one who had done something wrong.
He faked bankruptcy to steal her heart, hurt her in countless ways, and now thought a casual “sorry” meant she had to forgive
him?
There was no such principle in this world.
Her tone was stiff and cold: “I’ll say it one more time: I’m getting engaged to my boyfriend. Please leave, or I’ll have security
escort you out!”
Asher roared: “I’m not leaving! My girlfriend is about to marry someone else–how could I possibly leave?”
“Riley, you said you’d never marry anyone but me! We love each other so much–why are you suddenly marrying someone
else?”
He pointed at Julian, his eyes blood–red: “Is he richer than me? Or does he treat you better? He’s probably never even been to Washington–he doesn’t understand you at all! How could he possibly love you properly?!”
Riley burst into laughter.
ྋ. ཐ
Before Asher could ask “what’s so funny,” Julian extended his hand politely: “Mr. Blackwell, I believe you’re mistaken. I’m half–French, half–American, but I grew up in your city… Don’t you recognize me?”
Asher froze in place.
He stared intently at Julian’s face, carefully examining his features, then exclaimed in shock: “It’s you?!”
The person he had hated most in his life.
21:59
Two Chances. One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
72.7%
Chigter 21
Asher would never forget how, for three years in middle school, Julian Rivers had brought humiliation and defeat to him, the golden hoy.
No matter how hard he studied or struggled to catch up, he was forever the runner–up.
Worse still, Julian, that bastard, would ruthlessly mock him each time. He even organized betting pools before monthly exams on who would place first, publicly humiliating Asher.
Before Julian left for abroad, Asher had told him: “Few have ever beaten me. Julian Rivers, I hope I never see you again in this
lifetime!”
But he never imagined that after years apart, their reunion would be at his engagement party with Riley.
Fast feelings of inadequacy resurfaced as he turned to Riley, heartbroken: “Riley, how… how could you be with the person I
hate most?”
Riley’s smile slowly faded: “Asher Blackwell, didn’t you also end up with the person I hate most?”
“It doesn’t feel good, right?”
21:59
