Chapter 3

Asher was certain that I wouldn't dare to truly break things off with him.

He and Gretchen didn't move out. Instead, they settled into the manor's turret.

He gave her lavish gifts at auctions, just to see her smile. He casually handed her the keys to a newly acquired sports car.

He even went as far as renaming the most profitable nightclub in the southern city after her name in a grand gesture.

Gretchen flaunted the limited-edition jewelry Asher gifted her at socialite gatherings.

Gossip spread in the circle that Asher had abandoned me for a delicate beauty.

My finger brushed over a financial report on the table. "If I recall correctly, the approval documents for the Golden Triangle trade route's funding and personnel allocation require my signature. Right?"

John nodded beside me. "That's right, Miss Dixon. Mr. Dixon insisted back then that all the core business matters be approved by you. It would prevent others from becoming too influential."

I let out a cold laugh, picked up the pen, and rejected that application.

That evening, Asher burst into my study.

He looked anxious. "Nicola, what do you mean by this? Why are you rejecting Gavin's appointment? He's the most suitable one to oversee things there. You are blocking the funding for the Golden Triangle operations. Do you realize how much we'll lose if there's a problem with the goods supply there?"

I toyed with the pen in my hand and said leisurely, "Are you questioning my decision?"

Asher took a deep breath and then said, "Nicola, you can be angry with me, but don't joke about the business. It concerns the entire Dixon family. You'd better prioritize the bigger picture."

I raised my eyebrows and said, "Did you check Gavin's background before promoting him? He owes millions in gambling debts. You promoted him as the head of the Golden Triangle. Are you trying to hand it over to our rivals to pay off his debts? And I have my plan for the funding problems you mentioned."

Asher's face turned a mix of pale and flushed. After a moment of silence, he said, "Nicola, think it over. I'm not breaking off our engagement out of respect for the past. Don't make trouble for Gretchen and me."

I walked up to him and shot him in the left shoulder. "Asher, you once said if you ever let me down, you'd give me your life. Does that still hold?"

He fell to one knee in pain, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

Suddenly, a strong force shoved me aside as Gretchen rushed in to support Asher. "He never got injured so badly, even in the Golden Triangle. You've gone too far! You think you can do whatever you want just because you're the daughter of the Dixon family. You deserve to be humiliated."

I pressed the gun to her lips. "Say one more word again, and you'll never speak again."

Asher quickly pulled her behind him. He stared into my eyes and said word by word, "Nicola, you can think I've let you down. But if you continue to target Gretchen, I won't show mercy to you."

I remained expressionless and said coldly, "Then go ahead and try."

I looked out at the roses Asher once planted. They were withered now.

He had said the roses were like me, passionate, yet capable of causing pain.