Chapter 68: Let It Marinate
With Ashley dragging Lucian back, it was ironic, considering she used to be the one getting dragged back. But today, the roles were reversed.
Even so, he didn’t mind.
Lucian stood from his study, taking a short break after helping Gustav fix his schedule again. He looked out the window and opened it, imdiately catching Ashley’s voice as she yelled for Betty.
As if she hadn’t already sent a few of their cars to the chanic, there she was, doing what she had been doing the past few days—dragging Primo along with her as they worked in the garden.
"Master, here’s your tea," Nolan’s voice echoed in the room as he placed a cup of tea on the desk.
After setting it down, he hugged the tray to his chest and looked at the big boss. A smile curved on his face as he noticed the peace on Lucian’s expression.
Just last night, things in the mansion had been heavy. Even this morning, there was a lingering oppressive aura. But now, all of that was gone.
"I’m glad you are back, Master," Nolan said politely. "If there’s anything I can help you with, please let
know."
With that, Nolan lowered his head and was about to leave when Lucian’s voice stopped him.
"Why did you choose to believe her, Nolan?"
Nolan slowly turned back, catching Lucian still staring out the window. He smiled.
"Because soone has to," he said, shifting his gaze toward the window as well. "I know the madam has done many things that put Dominion at a disadvantage. However, I also believe... she wouldn’t go so far as to drag a child into it."
Looking back, Ashley never truly paid Primo any attention. At first glance, one might think it was because she was neglectful and heartless. But in hindsight, one would realize Ashley had always wanted to leave Dominion. And if she had gotten close to Primo, the young master might have grown attached to her—just like he did when she finally started paying attention to him.
But in the months since their marriage, Primo had never been affected by Ashley and Lucian’s complicated relationship. One reason was that Primo simply didn’t care about her as much. They were basically strangers.
"Besides... the madam has always been clear with her intentions," Nolan added with a smile, watching Lucian finally et his gaze. "Wasn’t she, Master?"
Back then, everyone—even the gardeners—knew Ashley wanted to leave Dominion. Her escape attempts were expected. She never denied it either. If anything, she would shout it for the world to hear—how much she loathed Dominion and how desperately she wanted to get out.
Nolan said nothing more as he lowered his head and left the room.
Lucian watched the head butler leave until the door closed behind him. He drew a shallow breath, his eyes falling on the cup of tea. But instead of reaching for it, he turned back to the window and watched Ashley walking away, holding Primo’s hand, with Betty beside them.
"...She does, I suppose," he whispered, his eyes soft as he followed her figure. "But can I really?"
Could he truly hold on to that?
Was it really that easy?
For as long as he could rember, she had been like a ghost he could not contain. Control was the only thing he had ever relied on to buy himself so ti.
And now, she herself willingly wanted him to stay. To be near her. To want her more than he already did.
Could he really hold on to that?
When he knew, deep down, that these feelings he never voiced were too deep... too tight... too suffocating even for him?
What if she realized... he was soone built to hold, not to let go?
Could he really hold on to her... without tightening his grip until she couldn’t breathe?
*****
Hours later, Ashley stood in front of the sink after her routine night shower. Spending the day in the garden and the plantation with Primo required a deep wash. But that wasn’t her current dilemma.
"Why... why do I feel so nervous?" she muttered, her hands gripping the edge of the sink as she stared at herself in the mirror. "It’s not like there’s anything to be nervous about."
Tonight, Lucian would move back into her room.
Yet knowing he was just outside made her heart race for entirely different reasons.
"It’s not like we’re doing that," she whispered, puffing her flushed cheeks. "Even if we did, so what? It wouldn’t be the first ti."
Slowly, Ashley covered her mouth, hiding the mischievous smile forming on her lips.
"Now that I think about it... we really haven’t shared a bedroom," she murmured, snapping out of whatever honeymoon fantasy she had drifted into.
On the night of their wedding, Lucian wasn’t even there. When he did show up, he didn’t stay long. The next ti he returned was when he dragged her back to Dominion. Since then, they hadn’t shared a bedroom until he eventually moved out altogether.
Even when Lucian was in her room, he never stayed.
There was one ti they slept through the night together, but that didn’t count. She had been drunk.
In other words, this would be the first real ti they would share a bedroom.
Ashley gulped and looked at herself again. Her gaze dropped to her body beneath the silk dress, lingering on the fading mark on her shoulder—the place where he had pinned her down the night before — revealing just how strong he was, even while holding back.
"Screw it," she muttered, shaking her head as she rushed to change into her pajamas. "Whatever happens, happens. Co what may!"
With that, Ashley huffed in determination and stepped out of the bathroom.
The mont she did, she froze.
Lucian was already in bed.
He leaned against the headboard, a pair of eyeglasses resting on his sharp nose, his focus on the laptop on his lap.
Ashley cleared her throat and took an awkward step forward. She had said "co what may" and "whatever happens, happens," but here she was, walking so stiffly that even a robot would look more natural.
As she approached, Lucian lifted his gaze toward her. His brows knitted slightly at her awkwardness as she sat at the edge of the bed.
...
Why even ask him to move back in when she was this uncomfortable?
"I won’t touch you," he said, shifting his attention back to the laptop. "Unless you ask
to."
Her shoulders stiffened as she turned to him. "Really?"
"Mhm."
Then an idea crossed his mind, and he glanced at the couch. "I can sleep there instead."
Deciding quickly, Lucian was about to close the laptop and prepare to stand. But before he could move, her hand slamd down on his leg.
"Don’t go," she said softly. "What’s the point of sharing a room if you’re going to sleep on the couch?"
Because she didn’t seem comfortable with him around?
Ashley cleared her throat and shook her head, pulling her legs onto the bed. "Just stay there. Besides, that couch is too short for you. How are you even going to sleep properly?"
"Don’t worry about !" she added quickly, slipping under the blanket and scooting closer to his side. "I just realized we’ve never really shared a bedroom... except that ti I got drunk with that stupid wine."
Trying to ease her own nerves, she leaned her head on his shoulder and glanced at the docunt on his screen.
Lucian glanced down at her, his body stiffening as her warmth seeped into him.
anwhile, Ashley skimd the docunt and imdiately realized it was sothing important—sothing ant only for his eyes. Yet he made no move to hide it. It reminded her of how lax he had always been around her when it ca to such matters.
"Lucian," she called, settling more comfortably against him. "You know, Auntie Liza told
their marriage didn’t start all rainbows and butterflies?"
She lifted her head, her face only a palm’s length away from his. "She said it was actually rough... almost a miracle they ended up together."
"She told
her secret for a lasting, happy marriage," Ashley added with a knowing smile. "Let it marinate—that’s what she said."
Lucian’s brows furrowed.
"Like how fruits and vegetables beco richer in flavor when they ripen, how tea takes ti to steep, and how at needs to marinate to bring out its best taste... relationships need ti too," she explained softly.
"What I’m saying is... we should trust the process," she bead. "After all, fruits are sweetest when they’re ripe, tea is best when properly steeped, and at is more flavorful when it’s marinated."
Lucian held her gaze, tilting his head slightly.
"Let it marinate... huh?"
*****
anwhile, Gustav sat quietly in his office, deep in thought. When he lifted his gaze, it fell on the file on his desk—an email sent to June. It was part of the additional report from the team that had both captured and released him.
The email wasn’t sent by Ashley herself, but the ssage was unmistakably hers.
[I want to fix my marriage. Please don’t tell Isabella.]
"So, she managed to contact him?" he murmured. "When?"
But that wasn’t his main concern.
Sothing else gnawed at him, sothing unsettling.
Narrowing his eyes, he whispered,
"Was everything... truly a coincidence? Or was it planned?"
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