Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 92

When Gabriella next awoke, it was already one in the afternoon.

The other side of the bed was empty; Asher had already risen.

Gabriella rubbed her eyes sleepily and lifted the duvet, preparing to get up and freshen herself.

Last night, when they'd returned to the bedroom, he'd said he would just hold her as they slept, nothing more—yet as they lay together, his embrace had gradually evolved into something far more passionate.

Gabriella stepped out of the bedroom to find Asher sitting on the sofa in the living room, one leg crossed over the other, a laptop balanced on his knee.

When he was working seriously, he exuded an utterly captivating charm.

The snow had stopped.

Gentle winter sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft, warm glow over Asher, softening his usually sharp, austere features.

The heating was on in the apartment. Asher wore only a black shirt, buttoned meticulously to the collar. He gazed at his laptop screen with complete concentration, his face expressionless, his long, elegant fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard. He looked the very picture of restraint and discipline.

Only Gabriella knew that those same articulate hands had, just hours before, unbuttoned her clothing one button at a time, drawing her into wave after wave of passion.

Only she knew how wild Asher could be beneath that composed, restrained exterior.

It was the first time she had seen him so focused on his work, the contrast with last night striking.

Gabriella found herself mesmerised by the sight.

Asher sensed her gaze and looked up. His stern features instantly softened, and his expressionless face warmed with a tender smile. "Gabby, you're awake?"

Gabriella responded with a soft "Mmm" and walked over to sit beside him, tucking her legs beneath her on the sofa and tilting her head to peek at his laptop screen.

Asher spoke gently: "Grandfather has asked me to formally take over the company. I'll be rather busy for a while."

Gabriella found this surprising. She had thought Andrew Blackwood was currently in charge of the Blackwood Group.

It involved internal Blackwood family matters, however, so she hadn't intended to inquire.

To her surprise, Asher volunteered more information.

"The situation with Vanessa is connected to my father's illegitimate son."

Asher continued looking at his screen as he spoke, his face betraying no emotion, as if discussing something entirely commonplace.

Gabriella's eyes widened in shock. "What illegitimate son?"

There was a slight shift in Asher's tone. His typing fingers paused, and his eyes reflected something like reluctance and sadness.

It was the first time Gabriella had seen such emotions in his eyes.

Asher's voice was quiet: "More than twenty years ago, whilst my mother was pregnant, my father had an affair. When my mother was in confinement after giving birth to me, the other woman approached my father with hospital pregnancy test results, attempting to use the child to secure a position in the family. When my mother learnt of this, she suffered an emotional breakdown and developed postpartum depression, nearly attempting suicide by jumping from a building."

"At the time, my grandparents pressured my father to terminate the pregnancy, but my father genuinely cared for this woman and couldn't bear to abort their child. He outwardly agreed to end the pregnancy but secretly sent the woman abroad, concealing this from my grandparents."

As if he feared Gabriella might think him cut from the same cloth as his father and consequently distance herself from him.

Gabriella's heart swelled with complex emotions, both bitter and sweet, her eyes growing moist.

The bitterness came from empathy for his childhood experiences and seeing him so vulnerable before her, afraid she might reject him.

The sweetness came from knowing how much he cared for her.

Gabriella sniffled slightly and wrapped her arms around Asher, giving him a heartfelt embrace.

The young woman's eyes glistened with tears, her voice slightly choked: "Asher, I know. I understand completely."

She knew he wasn't that kind of person.

Since being with him, she had never doubted his sincerity.

Asher returned her embrace, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent, feeling profoundly reassured.

Gabriella's voice was soft and soothing, calming the unease in Asher's heart: "Asher, as long as you don't leave me first, I'll never let you go."

Hearing these words, something resonated deep within Asher's heart, bringing him to the verge of tears.

His Gabriella was so wonderful—how could he ever bear to leave her first?