Chapter 274
Chapter 274:
Lifting his head with effort, Nathan watched Asher disappear into the night, a storm of emotions swirling in his gaze.
He had braced himself for this visit. He had expected Asher to lean on the Edwards name and pressure him back into practice. What he never anticipated was for Asher to lay bare every wound — both seen and unseen.
When Asher quietly revealed the thick, jagged scars twisting across his legs, Nathan had nearly recoiled in shock. Yet Asher’s face never flickered. He regarded those battered limbs as though they belonged to someone else, his tone staying even and unflinching.
“Mr. Cole, even with everything I’ve lost, I still managed to get up again. You have a sound body and a brilliant mind, yet you’re paralyzed by a single defeat. Don’t you think that’s a little absurd p>
The words struck Nathan like a fist to the stomach.
Ever since that crushing defeat three years ago, he had walked away from every case. He called it retirement. In reality, fear kept him locked away — the fear that he would fail again. Winning had always come easily. He had topped every class, conquered every firm, risen above competitors in both sleepy towns and bustling cities. He had never known what it was to lose. But one devastating defeat had shattered his confidence completely. He convinced himself he no longer mattered, and he had sealed himself inside this house.
Seeing the evidence of Asher’s suffering made Nathan suddenly feel foolish. Asher had been born into privilege — his life had started at the top. A single accident had stolen everything, leaving him to face pity and ridicule instead of power. Even so, he had found the strength to keep going.
How could Nathan justify hiding after just one setback?
Suddenly determined, he jumped to his feet. Ignoring a wave of dizziness, he hurried after Asher.
He reached the doorway just as Tripp was helping Asher into the car. His own voice sounded old and rough. “Why would you go to such lengths for me? You laid bare your deepest weakness like that p>
Nathan knew he didn’t possess that kind of bravery.
𝘛h𝘦 𝗆o𝘴𝘵 рор𝗎𝗹𝖺𝘳 𝗇𝘰𝘷е𝗅ѕ 𝘰𝗇
Asher didn’t look back. He tilted his face toward the moonlight and replied quietly, “It wasn’t about you. That’s all you need to understand p>
The car door shut with a soft click.
Nathan stood alone in the driveway, baffled.
The editing on the first episode wrapped up just two days later. Since the production team wanted to gauge audience reaction before moving forward, Kristine was given a brief break from the station and headed back to her work at the Artifact Institute.
Once her shift ended, she and Asher made their way to Nathan’s place to go over the lawsuit. Nathan still looked as guarded as he had on the first day they met, but there was a new intensity in the way he pored over the legal documents. Not wanting to disturb him, Kristine and Asher slipped out into the front yard to give him space.