Chapter 402. She’s the One (1)

ASHER

“Let’s get this over with, Ash,” I whispered to myself, wiping away the tears streaming down my face. “Don’t prolong the pain anymore…” I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady my trembling resolve.

I ran my hands over my face, rubbing away the wetness on my cheeks, and released my tight grip on my knees. Slowly, I pushed myself up to stand. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to take the necessary steps to the kitchen. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water, my hands still slightly unsteady. I drank it in one go, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat and grounding me just enough to face what was coming.

When I returned to the living room, I deliberately chose to sit properly on the couch this time—upright, composed, determined. Not like earlier, when I had been a crumpled mess on the floor, barely holding it together. My heart was pounding, the fear still there, but I swallowed it down. With one final deep breath, I picked up my iPad