Chapter 392
Chapter 392:
Kristine’s expression brightened into a smile she couldn’t quite contain. “That’s exactly what I was going to say. I can’t believe we were thinking the same thing.” She looked down as she spoke, her lashes fanning softly like the wings of something delicate.
Asher watched her, and something in his chest that had been cold for a very long time quietly dissolved.
The past few days had been unlike anything he had known before, and some part of him wanted nothing more than to stay inside this moment indefinitely.
After dinner, they sat together and worked through the details of their plan for the meeting with Leo. Once everything was settled, Asher made his way out to the yard and drove off into the night.
𝘛𝘩е 𝗯es𝘵 r𝗲𝘷𝘪𝘦𝗐𝘀 𝗼𝘯
In the back seat, Tripp caught a glimpse of Asher’s expression in the rearview mirror — unusually content — and decided to venture a question. “Mr. Edwards, when are you going to tell Kristine that you’re actually her husband p>
The warmth vanished from Asher’s face instantly. “Stay out of things that don’t concern you,” he said, his voice cutting.
Tripp fell silent at once, eyes forward, not daring to push further.
Still, the question lingered in his mind. Asher and Kristine seemed so naturally suited to each other, and her relationship with Colton was well and truly finished. He couldn’t understand why Asher was still keeping something this significant from her.
From the back seat, Asher stared at the back of Tripp’s head. He didn’t need to see his face to know exactly what was running through his mind.
The truth was simple, and it terrified him. He desperately wanted to tell Kristine they were married — but he was afraid of what would follow. Not of her feelings for Colton; that fear was gone. What kept him silent was the knowledge that if she found out he had been lying to her all this time, she might leave, and she might despise him just as thoroughly as she had once despised Colton.
The thought brought a small, bitter smile to his lips. He had never imagined himself as the kind of man who was too frightened to tell the truth. The realization sat uncomfortably inside him.
Two days passed.
Asher had gone to collect Leo personally, so Kristine made her way to the meeting venue alone. The restaurant was called Grunfeldkeller.
The building had once been a government munitions depot, and the owners had preserved its original bones — thick stone walls, low arched ceilings, antique military items displayed throughout. It was also celebrated for serving the finest local cuisine in the city, and its tables were notoriously difficult to reserve, perpetually claimed by tourists from around the world.
The fact that Asher had secured a booking here said everything about how seriously he wanted to impress Leo.
Kristine drew a slow breath and steadied herself. She could not afford to let Asher down.
She reached for the heavy front door, and just as her hand touched the handle, a low, measured voice came from behind her.
“Allow me p>
Kristine turned — and the breath left her body entirely.