Chapter 276
Briar reached out and gently rubbed his shoulder, her eyes full of concern.
But her words still carried a stubborn edge, a blend of complaint and coquetry as she murmured, “How are you so easy to knock down?”
Briar knew Ashton was just pretending to be pathetic to get her sympathy.
Ashton seized the opportunity to wrap his arm around Briar’s waist, murmuring pitifully, “It’s not that I’m easy to knock down–it’s that my wife’s fighting skills are too powerful.”
“Watch your persona–it’s about to collapse.” Briar withdrew her hand. “I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat at home?”
“Of course. I had the housekeeper prepare dinner in advance. Come on, let me carry you downstairs to eat.” As he spoke, Ashton tightened his hold on her waist, swept Briar into his arms, and headed for the door.
“Persona? What’s that?
“Can I eat it?
“Can it make my wife happy?” Asthon asked rhetorically.
Briar threw her arms around Ashton’s neck, her face pale with fright. “Wait, don’t go out yet… You’re not dressed.”
Ashton gave a smug, nonchalant laugh. “What are you afraid of? No one else is home. Besides, these are masculine assets that my wife loves to see, and I should show them off when necessary.”
But internally: Holy shit! Holy fucking shit! How did I forget to get dressed?
He was so focused on coaxing his wife that he forgot he was also naked.
In the end, Ashton casually threw on a bathrobe, puffed out his chest to show off his masculine assets, and carried his wife downstairs to eat.
Briar tried her best to focus only on the bowl in her hands, forcing herself not to let her gaze wander, especially not across the dining table.
Across the dining table sat Ashton. Whether it was due to the heat or his own teasing charm, the man’s robe was technically on–yet somehow essentially off.
His bathrobe was wide open, the collar slipping off his shoulder and exposing his chest.
If Briar sat up straight and looked closely, she could faintly see the smooth lines of his abdomen…and its
chiseled definition.
Every exposed part of Ashton’s body showcased his masculine charm to Briar.
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Chapter 276
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If the timing weren’t so inappropriate, if Briar hadn’t already had her fill of him before, there’s no way she could have resisted such a breathtaking sight of male beauty.
“Here, Briar, eat more.
“You’ve lost weight in just one night,” Ashton said.
He enthusiastically served her more food, noticing that Briar was only focused on eating rice.
Since they were sitting across the dining table from each other, Ashton had to stand up to put food in Briar’s bowl.
But when he stood up, his bathrobe revealed even more.
His abs were on full display, and she could even see his V–lines disappearing into the waistband of his underwear… His captivating waist and impressive assets were enough to dazzle Briar.
Because of Ashton’s movements, Briar was “forced” to take in the entire handsome view across the table.
That was against the rules! Totally against the rules.
She quickly stopped Ashton’s attempts to flirt while serving her food. “Don’t move. Just sit there. I can get it myself.”
Ashton did as she asked, leaning back in his chair with a lazy look and a nod. “Alright.”
Afraid that Ashton would try to flirt with her again, Briar gave equal attention to every dish on the table, leaving him no opportunity to dote on her.
Ashton suppressed a smile as he watched Briar earnestly finish every dish on the table.
Since it was a late–night supper, the portions for each dish were small.
Ashton had successfully used his charm to coax Briar into eating her fill.
After the meal, Ashton had no more excuses to tease Briar. Under her insistent gaze, he took out his phone and called Marvin.
It was quite late. According to his usual schedule, Marvin would have already been asleep by now.
But tonight, Marvin had been waiting in his study, sitting quietly and waiting for the phone on his desk to ring.
Marvin was conflicted; he both wanted his phone to ring and hoped it wouldn’t.
But at midnight, his phone rang.
He let it ring three times, then cleared his throat and answered, his voice casual, “Ashton, it’s late. What can I do for you?”
On the other end of the line, Ashton put his phone on speaker and set it on the table. “Marvin, you’re still
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awake, I presume?”
Although he phrased it as a question, his tone was certain.
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“If you have something to say, just say it, you brat. Are you still trying to play games with me?” Marvin said.
Ashton let out a low chuckle, his gaze falling on the young woman who sat with her arms crossed, once again. cloaked in an aura of aloofness.
He got straight to the point, “Marvin, I presume you’ve heard about what happened today?”
On the other end, Marvin’s breathing grew heavy. “…Yes, I’ve received the news.”
Ashton reached for Briar’s hand, toying with it in his palm. “Briar is here with me. Do you have anything to say to her?”
Marvin didn’t know what to say.
No, he wasn’t ready to talk yet.
He didn’t want to say anything for the time being.
Not until he contacted that person.
But he couldn’t refuse Briar so directly.
He was afraid the young woman would storm his home.
After all, given Briar’s status as an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, he didn’t dare confront her head–on.
Especially after hearing reports about Briar’s combat prowess at the deserted mountain pass and the bloody, brutal aftermath of the battle, Marvin’s initial affection for her had turned into deep fear.
A few of them, old–timers, had participated in the Lopez family’s lab experiment plans back in the day.
Although they later withdrew for various reasons, they ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing as evil began and good people suffered.
But life was unpredictable. Marvin never imagined that Briar had returned to avenge her mother.
Marvin had already sent a message to Tristan. He knew he couldn’t face Briar’s wrath alone.
No matter what, those other old–timers had to come forward and share the consequences.
Freddie had disappeared….
Briar’s people had also captured Brody…
Next, Briar would come for them.
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He just never expected that he would be the first person Briar called.
Honestly, he was too ashamed to face Briar’s questions.
At least, he couldn’t face Briar until he saw Tristan.
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He wasn’t as cold–hearted as Tristan. He couldn’t be ruthless about the incident back then, and he couldn’t bring himself to deny Briar the truth now.
But what they planned back then, personal feelings aside, was meaningful for the greater good.
At least the sacrifice of a poor woman back then saved a highly respected person.
If they could do it all over again, those old men would surely make the same decision.
As for the consequences….sacrificing a family’s happiness for ten more years of that person’s life was worth it.
