Chapter 3Love Ends in Old Dreams

It seemed he’d only come back to say those few words.

Without even taking off his shoes or stepping into the bedroom, he turned to leave.

Just then, his phone rang.

His body tensed. With his back still to me, he answered, putting it on speaker.

He wanted me to hear. Nicole’s sweet, cloying voice filled the silent room.

“Ash, where did you go? I just got out of the shower and you were gone.”

Asher turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on me. A faint, cruel smirk played on his lips.

“Just popped out to grab something, my little scatterbrain. You forgot we used up the last box.”

My hand clenched into a fist. I had overestimated myself. Hearing that, a sharp pang of pain shot through my chest.

He saw my reaction.

The smirk widened, and his voice softened into a tender caress.

“Be good. I’ll be right back.”

After hanging up, he didn't leave as promised. Instead, he walked slowly toward my bed.

His long, elegant fingers closed around my chin, tilting my face up.

He clearly expected to see tears.

But my face was dry. I offered him a small, placid smile.

“Asher, I don’t think I can cry over you anymore. Does that mean it’s really over? That whatever I felt for you is almost gone?”

I wasn't a fool.

I knew, on some level, that everything he was doing was a form of revenge. Revenge for what this other, “reborn” version of me had supposedly done to him.

I still didn't buy the whole reincarnation story.

But whether it was true or not, the only power he held over me was my love for him.

And once that was gone, I had nothing left to fear.

The smile on my face seemed to ignite something in him. His eyes turned bloodshot.

He shoved me back against the mattress. Then he grabbed a pillow, his face contorted, and pressed it down over my face.

“Don’t you dare smile,” he hissed, his voice cracking. “Don't you dare. Who gave you the right to stop loving me? You sentence me to hell every single day, and you think you can just… stop loving me?”

I never thought he would snap like that.

I struggled, my lungs burning, until he finally came to his senses and pulled the pillow away.

I gasped for air, ragged and desperate.

Asher collapsed beside me, pulling me into a fierce embrace. His entire body was trembling uncontrollably.

“Sera,” he whispered, his voice choked with something that sounded like despair. “If I forgave you… could we try again? Could you just be with me?”